Ether-Lipids Are Involved in Retinal Vegf Expression and in Postnatal Hyaloid Vessel Regression

Purpose:Ether-lipids are phospholipids that represent about 13% of retinal lipids and whose exact functions remain unknown. However, the preferential esterification of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) at the sn-2 position of ether-lipids and their liberation by an ether-lipid-specific phospholipase A2 suggest their involvement in cell signaling processes. Based on the data showing the persistence of the hyaloid vasculature in ether-lipid-deficient mice (DAPAT-/- mice, Rodemer et al Hum Mol Genet 2003), we further investigated the molecular mechanisms by which ether-lipids may regulate hyaloid vessels regression during post-natal development. Methods:C57BL/6 mice were treated at birth eit…