Dr. Grossman’s Blog

Image courtesy of bio.sandia.gov

Researchers have made a new breakthrough that helps them better understand how genes work to aid the development of the eyes and brain.

They found that the gene Six3 acts as gatekeeper that protects the eye from potentially disruptive signaling proteins as the eye forms in utero.

The eyes, and the retinas specifically, are incredibly complex structures and scientists appreciate the intricately choreographed dance of the genes as they turn on and off at exactly the right times to make proper physical and mental development possible.

But why should we care about another genetic discovery in a lab like the one at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which ran this study?

Medical News today, the source of this story, spoke to senior study author Guillermo Oliver, Ph.D who said, “realizing the potential of stem cells or other cell-based replacement therapies to correct vision or treat blindness requires a more detailed understanding of the genes and molecular mechanisms involved in normal retinal development.”

In other words, if we want future therapies to help recreate cells to help heal conditions such as macular degeneration of glaucoma, we need to understand how the eyes come together in the first place.

Study: Journal of Clinical Investigation

A team of scientists and surgeons from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London has developed a stem cell therapy to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of vision loss in the elderly.
“Under the new treatment, embryonic stem cells are transformed into replicas of the missing cells,” writes The Times of London. “They are then placed on an artificial membrane which is inserted in the back of the retina.”

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced this week that it will fund the development of the therapy; UCL professor Pete Coffey, who led the research team, predicts the therapy will be available as part of a simple, one-hour procedure within six or seven years.The researchers are applying for approval to conduct a clinical trial on humans; it would be just the second-ever trial conducted on humans using embryonic stem cells. Laboratory trials completed by the British team have demonstrated that stem cells can prevent blindness in rats with a similar disease to AMD. They have also successfully tested elements of the technology in pigs.

For natural approaches to help prevent the onset of macular degeneration as well as help preserve vision for those with macular degeneration, visit the Natural Eye Care web site