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Period10th(Term: from Oct. 2019)
部局連携型 -
Research InterestsOphthalmology, Cell Biology
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Research TopicDevelopment of treatments based on retinal lipid metabolism for intractable eye diseases
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Host DepartmentKyoto University Hospital
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Previous AffiliationInstitute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science, Kyoto University Hospital
Incidence of acquired blindness is increasing with advancing age. For intractable ocular diseases, including retinal degeneration or glaucoma, novel treatments that suppress degeneration of retinal neuronal cells have been highly anticipated. Abnormal lipid metabolism in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been associated with the pathophysiology of some intractable retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and degenerative retinal diseases. Docosahexaenoic acid is abundant in the retina. RPE is involved in the phagocytosis of the outer segment of photoreceptor cells, its recycling, and in the supply of lipids to the photoreceptors. Thus, RPE is one of the most active tissues in lipid metabolism. Herein, I would like to elucidate the changes in lipid metabolism in the RPE underlying ocular diseases or aging and identify the molecular mechanisms causal to these changes. After understanding the lipid metabolism, I would like to reveal the mechanisms underlying the diseases and develop new treatment for intractable eye diseases.