TREATMENT OF MACULAR EDEMA BY WATER CHANNEL PROTEIN AQUAPORIN

水通道蛋白（AQP）是一种通过动物、行星和微细胞器保存的水通道蛋白。水可以通过AQP快速通过质膜输送。在眼内，AQP突变导致晶状体白内障，泪液的产生和分泌与AQP 4和AQP 5有关。由此可见，眼与AQPs有重要的关系。在我们以往的研究中，aqp4分布于Mueller细胞和视网膜色素上皮，与视网膜水肿密切相关。最近的研究发现，通过差速离心，AQP与膜脂组筏存在于同一部位，提示AQP可能与筏有关。为了研究aqp4的功能，我们研究了与筏相关的脂滴分布和变化。另一方面，黄斑水肿是老年性黄斑变性和视网膜中央静脉阻塞视力障碍的主要原因。老年性退行光动力治疗，视网膜中央静脉闭塞行桡骨视神经切开术。光动力治疗和视神经切断术的效果（减轻黄斑水肿）可能与AQP的表达有关。我们积累了光动力疗法和视神经切开术的临床资料。从我们的研究来看，脂滴与类维甲酸循环有关，引起视觉过程的初始反应。AQP可能与视觉过程的初始反应和激光和/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.