DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), the signature protein of caveolae membrane microdomains, is linked to several ocular/retinal diseases including primary open angle glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and autoimmune uveitis. We have found that Cav-1 and caveolae play important roles in blood-retinal barrier (BRB) integrity, retinal ion homeostasis, and retinal function. More recently, we have found that Cav-1 plays a prominent role in promoting retinal inflammatory signaling and inflammatory BRB breakdown. These results imply that local disruption of Cav-1 function presents a viable therapy to suppress retinal inflammatory insults. Given that current steroid- based therapies for retinal inflammatory disease are not completely effective and fraught with potentially severe side effects, we hypothesize that Cav-1 and caveolae domains represent novel therapeutic targets to suppress retinal inflammation. In order to effectively evaluate the therapeutic potential of suppressing Cav-1 function locally in th retina, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms for these complex cell-intrinsic properties. In this proposal we will use cell-specific Cav-1 knockout mice to test cell-intrinsic Cav-1 functions in the hope of validating Cav-1 as a new therapeutic target for retinal inflammation, BRB breakdown, and inflammatory angiogenesis. The specific aims of this proposal are: 1) to determine which Cav-1-expressing cells promote retinal inflammatory signaling and BRB breakdown, in vivo; 2) to test the mechanism by which Cav-1 modulates inflammatory signaling and BRB breakdown in two disease relevant models, endotoxin- induced uveitis and acute ocular hypertension and; 3) to test preclinical therapeutic strategies to locally disrupt Cav-1-dependent inflammatory signaling and BRB breakdown. These goals have clear

public health relevance in that we will test a novel therapeutic concept that could make significant impact in improving therapeutic outcomes for the inflammatory pathologies of most major blinding eye diseases. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Inflammation-induced retinal injury and blood-retinal barrier breakdown play critical roles in major blinding eye diseases including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. Current steroid- based therapies for retinal inflammatory disease are ineffective have serious complications. The goal of this project is to test a novel therapeutic mechanism that could make significant impact in improving therapeutic outcomes for the inflammatory pathologies of major blinding eye diseases.