title: Role of unc5b in retinal neovascularization in mice with oxygen-induced retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the role of unc5b in retinal neovascularization in murine oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR).
  
  
  METHODS
  On postnatal 7(P7), C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 75%±2% oxygen for 5 days. On postnatal 12(P12), the mice were brought back to the room air (21% oxygen) to induce retinal neovascularization. Western blot analysis was performed to examine the temporal expression of unc5b in murine retinas. Double staining for unc5b and isolectin B4 were employed to determine the location of unc5b in murine retinas. The effect of unc5b on retinal neovascularization was evaluated by intravitreal injection of unc5b-FC in mice with OIR. Retinal neovascularization was measured by counting neovascular cell nuclei above the internal limiting membrane and by angiography of flat-mounted retinas perfused with fluorescein dextran.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to age-matched normal mice, the expression of unc5b was significantly increased in retinas of OIR mice on P17 and P21. Unc5b was apparently expressed in retinal vessels of OIR while being negative in normal retinal vessels. Retinal neovascularization in eyes injected with unc5b-FC was significantly reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unc5b-FC can effectively inhibit retinal neovascularization induced by OIR. It may serve as a powerful and novel therapy for ischemia-induced retinal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital of the Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-Bo
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xue-Liang
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shang