Reversing Contractility in Epiretinal Membranes

虽然人们对视网膜疾病中视网膜前膜形成的原因有很多了解，如 增生性玻璃体视网膜病变与增殖性糖尿病视网膜病变的研究进展 细胞转化为肌肉收缩表型的过程以及负责 人们对收缩的理解较少。长期目标是当患者体内有膜的时候 增殖性玻璃体视网膜病变或增殖性糖尿病视网膜病变 了解负责的收缩机制，并能开出治疗方法停止或 反转膜收缩。这项建议的目标是确定 膜收缩所必需的收缩机械。中心假设是 我们在患者全转录组测序中发现的收缩相关基因 视网膜前膜是收缩机械的组成部分，负责膜的形成 PVR和PDR患者的收缩和视网膜脱离。这背后的理性 建议的是，完成工作将确定关键的物理目标，当禁用这些目标时，将阻止或 反转膜收缩。核心假设将通过追求两个具体目标来检验： 1)探讨视网膜色素上皮(RPE)转化的机制 进入一个收缩的膜中。2)确定膜中与收缩相关的基因 PVR和PDR患者的视网膜细胞收缩的必要性 膜收缩模型和已建立的动物模型。我们将通过以下方式实现这些目标 一种分析和操纵技术的创新结合。其中包括使用 我们设计了从患者解剖的膜中提取RNA的方案，产量和 使整个转录组测序具有高质量。此外，我们将使用视网膜细胞培养 方法和由该团队开发的新的收缩模式，使得能够保存 与生俱来的生理和类似疾病的收缩表型。我们将使用这些新方法在 与分子生物学中成熟的技术相结合。这项研究提案意义重大， 因为结果将确定视网膜膜收缩的机制和 PVR和PDR的视力损失。根据这一认识，可能会开发出新的治疗方法。 用来拯救失明的病人。这项工作的预期成果是一个更加完整的 对两种毁灭性眼病的视网膜膜形成和收缩的认识 将提供对视网膜其他纤维性膜疾病的洞察。结果将会有一个 立即产生积极影响，因为获得的新知识将为 预防视力丧失。

While much is known on the causes of epiretinal membrane formation in retina diseases such as Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR), the progression of cell transformation into myocontractile phenotype and the machinery responsible for the contraction is less understood. The long-term goal is that when a membrane in patients with Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy or Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy is identified we have an understanding of the contraction machinery responsible and can prescribe treatments to stop or reverse membrane contraction. The objective of this proposal is to determine the components of the contraction machinery that are essential for membrane contraction. The central hypothesis is contraction associated genes we identify during whole transcriptome sequencing of patient epiretinal membranes are components of the contraction machinery are responsible for membrane contraction and retinal detachment in patients with PVR and PDR. The rational underlying this proposal is that completion will identify key physical targets that when disabled will prevent or reverse membrane contraction. The central hypothesis will be tested by pursuing two specific aims: 1) To determine the mechanisms underlying the transformation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) into a contracting membrane. 2) To identify contraction-associated genes in the membranes from patients with PVR and PDR and evaluate their necessity for contraction by retinal cells in a new model of membrane contraction and a well established animal model. We will pursue these aims using an innovative combination of analytical and manipulative techniques. These include using the protocol we designed to isolate RNA from patient dissected membranes with sufficient yield and quality enabling whole transcriptome sequencing. Additionally we will use retina cell culture methods and a new model of contraction developed by this team that enables the preservation of native physiology and resembles the disease contraction phenotype. We will use these new methods in tandem with well-established techniques in molecular biology. The research proposal is significant, because the results will identify the machinery responsible for retinal membrane contraction and vision loss in PVR and PDR. From this understanding, new therapeutic approaches may be developed for rescuing patients from vision loss. The expected outcome of this work is a more complete understanding of retinal membrane formation and contraction in two devastating eye diseases, which will provide insight into other fibrotic membrane diseases of the retina. The results will have a positive impact immediately as the new knowledge gained will point to new targets for the prevention of vision loss.