ETIOPATHOGENESIS OF UVEITIS

在美国，葡萄膜炎是致盲的主要原因。扁平部炎性 是葡萄膜炎的一种定义明确的疾病子集。PARS扁平炎的原因 以及其他葡萄膜炎亚组，通常是未知的。整体而言 这个项目的目标是表征一种独特的蛋白质，称为 P-36，我们已经在扁平部的血浆/血清中发现了它 患者在疾病急性加重期，并调查其 可能在部分性扁平炎发病机制中的作用。身份的鉴定 一种可能与部分性扁平炎发病机制有关的蛋白质 是其治疗和可能治愈的重大进展。 我们提出了以下具体目标： A.鉴定部分性扁平炎患者血浆/血清中的P-36 定量检测患者血浆/血清中P-36水平，以确定P-36水平 疾病的活动性，并确定它是自由传播的还是作为 更大的分子复合体的一部分。 B.在眼睛中识别和描述P-36的特征。 C.确定P-36的潜在生物学功能。 对患者血浆/血清中P-36水平的定量评估可能是 在监测疾病活动和指导治疗方面的价值。这个 拟议的研究将提供关于 蛋白。涉及P-36功能特性的研究将有助于我们 了解扁平部炎症和眼部炎症的发病机制 可能是为了设计更有效的治疗这种疾病的方法。

Uveitis is a major cause of blindness in the United States. Pars planitis is a well-defined disease subset of uveitis. The causes of pars planitis, as well as other uveitis subsets, are frequently unknown. The overall objective of this project is to characterize a distinctive protein, called P-36, which we have identified in the plasma/serum of pars planitis patients during acute exacerbation of the disease, and to investigate its possible role in the pathogenesis of pars planitis. The identification of a protein which may contribute to the pathogenesis of pars planitis would be a major advance toward its treatment and possible cure. We propose the following specific aims: A. To identify P-36 in the plasma/serum of pars planitis patients, to quantitate its levels in patient's plasma/serum, to correlate P-36 levels with disease activity, and to determine whether it circulates freely or as a part of a larger molecular complex. B. To identity and characterize P-36 in the eye. C. To identity a potential biological function for P-36. Quantitative assessment of P-36 levels in patients' plasma/serum may be of value in both monitoring disease activity and guiding treatment. The proposed study would provide the precise structural information about the protein. Studies involving functional properties of P-36 will help us in understanding the mechanism of ocular inflammation in pars planitis and possibly to design more effective treatment for this disease.