Researchers at UVA Health have made a breakthrough discovery that could lead to new treatments for vision-threatening conditions like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Their study reveals a previously unknown contributor to harmful blood vessel growth in the eye, shedding light on the mechanisms behind these common causes of vision loss.
Understanding Vision Loss: Vision loss often results from abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye, a process fueled by an excessive substance called “vascular endothelial growth factor-A” (VEGF).
While treatments targeting VEGF have shown promise, their effectiveness can diminish over time, necessitating the development of better therapies.
Identifying a Key Protein: The research by Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati and Dr. Shao-bin Wang identifies a key protein that regulates VEGF levels.
In laboratory mice, blocking this protein significantly reduced VEGF levels without causing adverse side effects on the retina, where blood vessel overgrowth occurs.
The Role of FTO Protein: The protein identified is called “fat mass and obesity-associated” (FTO) protein, previously linked to human obesity.
Unexpectedly, the study found that FTO protein also plays a crucial role in regulating ocular neovascularization through an epigenetic mechanism. This discovery answers a longstanding question about how immune cells in the eye contribute to abnormal blood vessel growth.
Promising Target for New Treatments: The researchers believe that targeting the FTO protein could lead to the development of more effective and accessible interventions for vision loss.
Current treatments primarily focus on regulating VEGF protein levels, which have limitations. Identifying FTO as a potential target offers hope for alternative therapies.
Impact on Neurovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Neurovascular age-related macular degeneration affects over 200 million people worldwide.
While more research and testing are needed, this discovery has the potential to reduce the burden of neovascular-related eye conditions, preserving the eyesight of millions.
Conclusion: The groundbreaking research by UVA Health scientists has revealed a promising avenue for treating vision loss.
By targeting the FTO protein, future therapies may provide more effective solutions for conditions like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
While further investigation is required, this discovery offers hope for improved treatments and a brighter future for those at risk of vision loss.
If you care about eye health, please read studies about how vitamin B may help fight vision loss, and MIND diet may reduce risk of vision loss disease.
For more information about eye disease, please see recent studies about how to protect your eyes from glaucoma, and results showing this eye surgery may reduce dementia risk.
The research findings can be found in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
