Eiji Sakurai

TL;DR: It is shown that generic siRNAs might treat angiogenic disorders that affect 8% of the world’s population, and that si RNAs might induce unanticipated vascular or immune effects.

TL;DR: Mice deficient in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 or its cognate C-C chemokine receptor-2 develop cardinal features of age-related macular degeneration, including accumulation of lipofuscin in and drusen beneath the retinal pigmented epithelium.

TL;DR: This paper showed that the cornea expresses soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1; also known as sflt-1) and that suppression of this endogenous VEGGF-A trap by neutralizing antibodies, RNA interference or Cre-lox-mediated gene disruption abolishes corneal avascularity in mice.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that C3a and C5a are generated early in the course of laser-induced CNV, an accelerated model of neovascular AMD driven by VEGF and recruitment of leukocytes into the choroid, and that genetic ablation of receptors for C1a or C2a reduces VEGf expression, leukocyte recruitment, and CNV formation after laser injury.

TL;DR: The role of the macrophage is defined as a critical component in initiating the laser-induced CNV response and reduction in CNV volume correlated with VEGF protein levels and number of infiltrating macrophages.