title: Photoreceptor rescue of pigment epithelium-derived factor-impregnated nanoparticles in Royal College of Surgeons rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the protective effect of intravitreal injection of pigment epithelium-derived factor-impregnated nanoparticles (PEDF-NPs) against photoreceptor degeneration in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-week-old RCS rats received an intravitreal injection of PBS, blank NPs, PEDF (2.5 μg), or PEDF-NPs (2.5 μg). Eyes were assessed with morphological, immunohistochemical, and physiologic analysis over the following 8 weeks. Cell death was examined using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated uridine 5'-triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In RCS rats, the a- and b-wave amplitudes on electroretinograms in eyes treated with PEDF-NPs were greater than those in retinas receiving other treatment. Immunocytochemistry showed consistently greater opsin preservation in eyes treated with PEDF-NPs. A significantly higher number of photoreceptors and significantly fewer TUNEL-positive cells were present after treatment with PEDF-NPs, compared to PEDF-treated eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that intravitreally injected PEDF-NPs delayed photoreceptor degeneration by inhibiting apoptosis in the RCS rat retina due to targeting and sustained release of PEDF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Goichi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuno
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Kiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuneoka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004596:Electroretinography; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017299:Rod Opsins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015843:Serpins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D017299:Rod Opsins; D015843:Serpins; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor