title: Suppression of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization by intravitreal injection of tristetraprolin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of intravitreal adenoviral vector-mediated tristetraprolin (Ad-TTP) on VEGF mRNA expression in a rat model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ad-TTP was prepared using a commercial kit. Retinal laser-induced photocoagulation (10 spots per eye) was performed on rats in this experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) model. Rats were divided into four groups: control (single intravitreal injection of balanced salt solution, n=10), laser-induced CNV (photocoagulation only, n=20), laser-induced CNV plus Ad-TTP injection (photocoagulation plus a single intravitreal Ad-TTP injection, n=20) and Ad-TTP injection only (n=10). Changes in choroidal morphology were evaluated in ten rats in the laser only and the laser plus Ad-TTP groups. Two weeks after laser injury, the size of CNV was calculated by perfusion with high-molecular-weight fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran. VEGF mRNA expression in retina-choroid tissue from ten rats in each group was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two weeks after treatment, the area of laser-induced CNV was reduced by approximately 60% in the rats given the Ad-TTP injection compared with that in the laser-only group. There was a tendency toward decreased VEGF mRNA expression in the Ad-TTP injection groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single intravitreal injection of Ad-TTP significantly suppressed CNV size in this experimental laser-induced CNV model. Ad-TTP injection also decreased VEGF mRNA expression compared with that in the laser-induced CNV group. The present study is meaningful as the first study to investigate the effect of tristetraprolin delivered via intravitreal injection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 660-702, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Wun
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 660-702, Korea ; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-702, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Seop
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 660-702, Korea ; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-702, Korea.
authors.forename: In Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 660-702, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 660-702, Korea ; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-702, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 660-702, Korea ; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-702, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Myong
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 660-702, Korea ; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-702, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Moon
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: adenoviral vectors; laser-induced choroidal neovascularization; tristetraprolin