Publications by authors named "Masahiro Fuwa"

Purpose: To evaluate the ocular distribution of omidenepag isopropyl (OMDI) and its active form omidenepag (OMD), an EP2 receptor agonist, after topical administration of OMDI into rabbit and monkey eyes, and to determine whether OMDI and OMD interact with target receptors or enzymes of other antiglaucoma agents.

Methods: Both eyes of six rabbits and of 14 monkeys were topically instilled with 0.03% [14C]-OMDI.

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Omidenepag isopropyl (OMDI) is an intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering drug used to treat glaucoma. The active form of OMDI, omidenepag (OMD), lowers elevated IOP, the main risk factor for glaucoma, by increasing the aqueous humor outflow; however, a detailed understanding of this mechanism is lacking. To clarify the IOP-lowering mechanism of OMDI, the effects of OMD on the mRNA expression of the extracellular matrix, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) were evaluated in human trabecular meshwork cells.

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To investigate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effects of omidenepag isopropyl (OMDI), a potent and highly selective prostanoid EP2 receptor agonist, as a potential first-line ocular hypotensive agent when combined with existing antiglaucoma agents in conscious ocular normotensive monkeys. Male cynomolgus monkeys were examined under conscious conditions. OMDI ophthalmic solution alone was topically applied to an eye or combined with other ophthalmic solutions at 5-min intervals.

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Article Synopsis
  • * In studies with rat neurons, nafamostat was effective in preventing cell death caused by NMDA, and both nafamostat and its derivative sepimostat safeguarded the rat retina from NMDA-induced damage.
  • * The neuroprotective effects of nafamostat and sepimostat are linked to NMDA receptor antagonism, particularly at the NR2B subunit, which could be influenced by the polyamine spermidine.
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In this study, we made a comparative efficacy and safety assessment of two different fixed combinations of drugs, viz., tafluprost/timolol (TAF/TIM) and latanoprost/carteolol (LAT/CAR), by determining their effects on intraocular pressure (IOP) in ocular normotensive monkeys and examining their toxic effects on ocular surface using human corneal epithelial cells. TAF/TIM was found to be more effective in lowering IOP for a longer duration compared to LAT/CAR.

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Purpose: To investigate the mechanism of the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of a novel selective prostaglandin E2 receptor 2 (EP2) receptor agonist, omidenepag isopropyl (OMDI).

Methods: The effect of OMDI on IOP and aqueous humor dynamics was evaluated in cynomolgus monkeys with unilateral laser-induced ocular hypertension. In a crossover manner, the hypertensive eye of each monkey was dosed once daily with 20 μL of either 0.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of two fixed-dose eye drop combinations: tafluprost/timolol (Taf/T-FDC) and latanoprost/timolol (Lat/T-FDC) by examining how well they lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in monkeys and the effects on ocular surface.
  • The IOP reduction for both combinations was similar initially, peaking at 8 hours after application, but Taf/T-FDC showed a significant advantage for IOP reduction from 24 to 30 hours, indicating a longer-lasting effect compared to Lat/T-FDC.
  • Higher concentrations of timolol were found in the aqueous humor after using Taf
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The common variants in lysyl oxidase-like 1 gene (LOXL1) are associated with exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) patients developed through exfoliation syndrome (XFS). However, the risk allele of a variant in LOXL1 has been found to be inverted between Asian and Caucasian populations. Therefore, we newly performed a genome-wide association study using 201 XFS/XFG and 697 controls in Japanese, and identified 34 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributing in not only LOXL1 but also TBC1D21 and PML at the 15q24.

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Background: To date, only a small portion of the genetic variation for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the major type of glaucoma, has been elucidated.

Methods And Principal Findings: We examined our two data sets of the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) derived from a total of 2,219 Japanese subjects. First, we performed a GWAS by analyzing 653,519 autosomal common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 833 POAG patients and 686 controls.

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Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is one of the major causes of blindness worldwide and considered to be influenced by inherited and environmental factors. Recently, we demonstrated a genome-wide association study for the susceptibility to POAG by comparing patients and controls. In addition, the serum cytokine levels, which are affected by environmental and postnatal factors, could be also obtained in patients as well as in controls, simultaneously.

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Background: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and its severe variant, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), are acute inflammatory vesiculobullous reactions of the skin and mucosa. They often affect the ocular surface and can result in permanent visual dysfunction.

Objectives: We sought to discover genetic markers for SJS/TEN susceptibility.

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Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the major type of glaucoma. To discover genetic markers associated with POAG, we examined a total of 1,575 Japanese subjects in a genome-wide association study (stage 1) and a subsequent study (stage 2). Both studies were carried out at a single institution.

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The role of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) in the regulation of female-predominant expression of mouse CYP3A44 by glucocorticoid hormones was evaluated using a primary culture of female mouse hepatocytes, as the expression was suppressed in adrenalectomized female mice, restored by dexamethasone (DEX) treatment and was not detected in male mouse livers. Glucocorticoid hormones, such as DEX, hydrocortisone, and corticosterone, 11beta-[4-dimethylamino] phenyl-17beta-hydroxy-17-[1-propynyl]estra-4,9-diene-3-one (RU486), antagonists for GR and an agonist for PXR, and rifampicin, an agonist for PXR, were chosen to investigate the relationship of GR/PXR activation and Cyp3a44 gene expression. Glucocorticoid-inducible expression of CYP3A44 was not suppressed but rather was increased by RU486.

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