TREATMENT OF MACULAR EDEMA BY WATER CHANNEL PROTEIN AQUAPORIN

水通道蛋白（AQP）是一种水通道蛋白，通过动物、行星和微细胞器保存。水通道蛋白可使水快速通过质膜转运。在眼睛中，AQP的突变导致透镜的白内障，泪液的产生和分泌与AQP 4和5有关。由此可见，眼与AQPs有着重要的关系。在我们以往的研究中，AQP 4主要分布于Mueller细胞和视网膜色素上皮，与视网膜水肿的发生有密切关系。近年来的研究发现，AQP与筏存在于同一部位，即用差速离心法测得的膜脂群，提示AQP可能与筏有关。为了研究AQP 4的功能，我们观察了与筏相关的脂滴的分布和变化。另一方面，黄斑水肿是年龄相关性黄斑变性和视网膜中央静脉阻塞中视力障碍的主要原因。光动力学疗法用于治疗年龄相关性变性，放射状视神经切开术用于治疗视网膜中央静脉阻塞。光动力疗法和放射状视神经切断术的疗效（黄斑水肿减轻）可能与AQP的表达有关。积累了光动力疗法和视神经切开术的临床资料。我们的研究表明，脂滴与维甲酸循环有关，引起视觉过程的初始反应。AQP可能与视觉过程的初始反应及激光和/或手术对视网膜水肿的吸收有关。

Aquaporin (AQP) is a water channel protein, which is preserved through animals, planets, and microorganelles. Water can be transported through plasma membrane quickly by AQP. In the eye, the mutation of AQP causes cataract of the lens and lacrimal production and secretion relate to AQP 4 and 5. In this way, the eye and AQPs have important relationship. In our past study, AQP 4 distributed in the Mueller cells and in the retinal pigment epithelium, and has close relationship with retinal edema. In recent study, it is reported that AQP exists in the same part as the raft that is group of membrane lipid by differential centrifugation, which suggests AQP may be related to raft. In order to study the function of AQP 4, we investigated the distribution and changes of lipid droplets that is related to raft. On the other hand, the macular edema is a major cause of visual disturbance in the age-related macular degeneration and the central retinal vein occlusion. Photodynamic therapy is carried out for the age-related degeneration and radial optic neurotomy is for central retinal vein occlusion. The effects (decrease of macular edema) of photodynamic therapy and radial optic neurotomy may be due to the expression of AQP. We accumulated the clinical data of photodynamic therapy and optic neurotomy. From our studies, lipid droplets relate to retinoid cycle which cause the initial response of visual process. AQP may relate to initial response of visual process and the absorption of retinal edema by laser and/or surgery.