Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in people aged between 20 and 60 years. After 15 years of having diabetes, 98 percent of patients with Type 1 diabetes and 78 percent of patients with Type 2 diabetes have some degree of retinal damage. A recent paper by Maugeri, D’Amico, Bucolo, and D’Agato reports that PACAP-38 has a protective effect on the retinal pigmented epithilium in a model of diabetic retinopathy. The protective effect appears to occur through a EGFR-dependent mechanism. PACAP-38 has also been reported to have neuroprotective effects on devloping rat retina (Silveira, M; et al., J. Biol. Chem.,2002, 227, 16075-80). This peptide has a further effect on eyesight by stimulating tear production and reducing signs of dry eye (Nakamachi, T; et al., Nature Commun., 2016, 7, 12034). Drops containing PACAP-38 increased tear production in mice for up to two hours. The tears were produced in the infraorbital lacrimal gland.
AAPPTec offers PACAP-38 for research applications in 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg and 2.5 mg vials. We can also provide larger quantities. Please contact AAPPTec for a quotation on larger quantities.
