netbook
desktop
mobile
tablet-landscape
tablet
phone-landscape
phone
Research to Prevent Blindness

Researchers Identify Treatment Target for Blinding Retinal Diseases

New research published today in Cell Reports identifies a potential treatment target for blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. In the study, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine (supported in part by an unrestricted Research to Prevent Blindness grant to the Department of Ophthalmology) explored how the retina's photoreceptors—the rods and cones responsible for detecting light, color, contrast, and sharpness—are damaged over the course of these diseases.

"We believe we have uncovered a unifying pathway involved in inflicting severe damage to and even causing the death of rods and cones," said Jonathan B. Lin, an MD/PhD student and co-first author with Shunsuke Kubota, MD, PhD. "These findings should help us develop treatments for retinal disorders, regardless of what's causing them."

Lin works in the laboratory of senior investigator Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, who is a recipient of an RPB Physician-Scientist Award and also recently published key findings on the Zika virus. In a series of experiments in mice and retinal cells, the researchers identified a key molecule —NAD — in the cascade that leads to the death of the retina's rods and cones.

MD/PhD student Jonathan Lin (left) and Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Photo credit: Robert Boston / Washington University

Lin, Apte and colleagues found that defects in the same NAD pathway appeared to be involved in several different diseases of the retina. When they treated damaged photoreceptor cells in mice with a second molecule called NMN — a precursor molecule that boosts levels of NAD — the cells' degeneration ceased and vision was restored.

"This is exciting because we may have found a reason why these highly metabolically active cells are susceptible to damage and death when the NAD pathway does not function optimally," said Apte, also a professor of developmental biology and neuroscience and of medicine.

The pathway offers a promising target for therapies for multiple retinal diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa, one of the leading causes of blindness that impairs vision over many years and for which there is currently no cure.

Learn more about the study from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine press release and podcast

Related News: Top Story

RPB logo

Vision Research Funding Partnership Event Takes Place Today

Leaders of organizations that fund vision research convene in Washington, D.C. to increase collaboration and maximize the impact of research funding for sight-threatening diseases.

Read More

 
Dr. Alex Huang

Research to Prevent Blindness and Alcon Award Glaucoma Grant

Dr. Alex Huang of the University of California San Diego School of Medicine will study glaucoma filtration surgeries with the aim of improving surgical success for lowering eye pressure and providing neuroprotection.

Read More

 
clock icon

Researchers Build An “Aging Clock” To Help Treat Eye Disease

The new way to measure ocular aging opens treatment avenues for numerous eye diseases.

Read More

 
RPB Logo

Research to Prevent Blindness and the American Academy of Ophthalmology Award Big Data Research Grants for Improved Patient Care

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) today announced the 2023 recipients of the RPB/AAO Award for IRIS Registry Research.

Read More

 
RPB logo

In Memoriam: Herbert J. Siegel

RPB acknowledges the passing of a dedicated former Board member.

Read More

 
Patricia D'Amore, PhD

Research to Prevent Blindness and Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Announce 2024 Recipient of RPB David F. Weeks Award for Outstanding Vision Research

Patricia Ann D’Amore, PhD, MBA, is recognized for ground-breaking contributions to the field of vision research.

Read More

 

Subscribe

Get our email updates filled with the latest news from our researchers about preventing vision loss, treating eye disease and even restoring sight. Unsubscribe at any time. Under our privacy policy, we'll never share your contact information with a third party.