Is a cure on the horizon?
Researchers have discovered a protein that may be crucial to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in older adults. This breakthrough could potentially lead to the first effective treatment for AMD, a condition that affects around 15 million people in the United States. The research is still in its early stages, but it offers new hope for better management of the disease, which currently lacks treatments that can halt its progression.
AMD affects the macula, a part of the retina, leading to a gradual loss of central vision, while peripheral vision is generally preserved. The exact cause of AMD has remained unclear, but researchers know that a layer of cells in the eye, called the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), plays a central role in the disease. The buildup of fatty proteins, known as drusen, in the RPE is a hallmark of early-stage AMD.
The research team, led by Ruchira Singh, used human stem cells to model AMD, bypassing traditional animal models. They discovered that an overproduction of a protein called TIMP3 blocks enzymes known as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are necessary for healthy eye function. This blockage triggers an inflammatory response that leads to the accumulation of drusen.
In their study, the scientists found that using a specific molecule inhibitor to target the inflammatory process reduced drusen deposits. This suggests that targeting the protein pathways responsible for inflammation and drusen buildup could be a promising strategy for future treatments of AMD.
The findings, published in Developmental Cell, highlight the importance of targeting drusen formation as a way to slow AMD’s progression and prevent vision loss. If successful, these treatments could greatly improve the lives of millions of people affected by this condition.
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