This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. Objective: To determine the effects of vitamin D on intraocular pressure (IOP) in monkeys in vivo. To utilize the monkey anterior segment in organ culture (MOCAS) to investigate the effects of gene therapy and other molecules on trabecular outflow which may also be important for glaucoma therapy. Over expression of proteins that alter aqueous humor outflow may lead to intraocular pressure reduction that is important for glaucoma therapy. Alternatively, elevation of intraocular pressure may lead to a new glaucoma model. DESCRIPTION: Monkey eyes in vivo were treated topically with Vitamin D and the effects on IOP were determined. Over-expression of the protein cochlin, which is elevated only in human glaucoma, increases intraocular pressure (IOP) and decreases trabecular outflow. Treatment of MOCAS with TGFb2 induces cochlin production. The role of cochlin in the IOP elevation induced by TGFb2 will be determined by silencing cochlin expression with shRNA for cochlin during TGFb2 treatment. Adeno viral vectors expressing caldesmon or C3 have been shown to decrease IOP in MOCAS. F I V vectors expressing caldesmon or C3 are being tested in MOCAS before injection into monkey eyes in vivo. MOCAS were treated with the HepII domain of fibronectin in order to evaluate the morphology of the trabecular meshwork during IOP reduction. PROGRESS: Topical treatment of monkey eyes in vivo with vitamin D decreases IOP. The mechanism for this effect is under investigation. There does not seem to be any effect on uveoscleral outflow or aqueous humor formation. Treatment of MOCAS with VitD did not have any effect on IOP suggesting trabecular outflow is not affected. MOCAS were treated with H I V vectors expressing shRNA cochlin or the negative control. There was no effect out intraocular pressure or outflow facility of the vectors alone. TGFb2 induced IOP elevation in MOCAS was not consistent enough between paired MOCAS to determine the effects of silencing cochlin expression on TGFb2 induced IOP elevation. Additional experiments will be conducted with adeno vectors over-expressing cochlin. Treatment of MOCAS with F I V vectors expressing caldesmon or C3 did not lower IOP. The possibility that previous results with adeno viral vectors may, in part, be due to augmentation of the caldesmon or C3 response by adeno vector interaction with integrins is being investigated. Cell soluble C3 also did not decrease IOP in MOCAS. The TAT sequence on commercially available C3 may have caused endocytosis into vesicles sequestering the C3 from its target. HepII treatment of MOCAS resulted in expansion of the space between the inner wall of Schlemm's canal and the trabecular collagen beams compared to control. This research used WNPRC Animal and Pathology Services. PUBLICATION: *Schwinn MK, Gonzalez JM Jr, Gabelt BT, Sheibani N, Kaufman PL, Peters DM: Heparin II domain of fibronectin mediates contractility through an alpha4beta1co-signaling pathway. Exp Eye Res, 316:1500-1512, 2010. PMID: 20302860, PMCID2871963.
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