Schlemm’s canal targeted-Tie2 knockdown as a mouse model of adult-onset ocular hypertension and glaucoma

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R21 · $184,906 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Glaucoma causes irreversible vision loss and blindness, but we still lack understanding of the multipart mechanisms that cause and drive glaucoma progression. Animal models enable investigation of cellular and molecular players throughout disease, and are essential for testing and optimizing new treatments. There is a need for animal models that selectively model pathogenic events of human glaucoma to trigger neurodegeneration with a predictable time of onset and progression. We have developed a mouse model that selectively disrupts Schlemm’s canal (SC) expression of Tie2, which is associated with ocular hypertension and glaucoma in humans. The studies proposed here will define the timecourse, sequence and variability of functional and structural optic nerve and RGC neurodegeneration in this model. We will also develop a CRISPR/Cas9 approach to disrupt Tie2 expression in SC, which could be applied independent of genetic background. This project is expected to provide an inducible glaucoma model relevant to study the pathogenesis of ocular hypertension and neurodegeneration, and a preclinical tool to evaluate new treatments for human glaucoma.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10475817
Project number
5R21EY033131-02
Recipient
UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
Principal Investigator
ALEJANDRA BOSCO
Activity code
R21
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2022
Award amount
$184,906
Award type
5
Project period
2021-09-01 → 2023-08-31