Scientists discover a protein that causes blindness resulting from diabetes.
Researchers led by scientists from University College London have discovered a protein that appears to trigger diabetic retinopathy, a common eye disease caused by high blood sugar levels that damage blood vessels in the retina. This disease is a leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults.
According to ScienceDirect , this study, conducted on mice with support from Diabetes UK, Moorfields Eye Charity, and the Wellcome Trust, could change how doctors treat this disease. Instead of treating damage after it has occurred, future treatments may be able to stop vision loss before it happens.
Protein linked to early retinal damage
The findings, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, indicate that a protein called LRG1 is a key factor that triggers the first stage of retinal damage after developing diabetes.
The researchers found that this protein causes excessive contraction of the cells surrounding the smallest blood vessels in the eye, leading to their “squeezing”.
This constriction reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the retina, and initiates a series of reactions that may eventually lead to impaired vision in the long term.
In experiments conducted on diabetic mouse models, scientists were able to inhibit the activity of this protein. This prevented premature retinal damage and preserved normal eye function.
According to the ScienceDerrick website, Dr. Julia De Rossi, the lead author of the study, said: “Our discovery shows that diabetic eye disease starts earlier than we thought, and that the LRG1 protein is one of the main causes of this early damage,” noting that “targeting this protein may give us a way to protect vision before serious damage occurs, and thus prevent blindness in millions of people with diabetes instead of treating it.”
Limited treatments
Diabetic retinopathy affects people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
In many cases, treatment only begins after symptoms such as blurred or distorted vision appear. By then, the damage may have already occurred, and it is often irreversible.
Current treatments focus on another protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, these treatments are only effective for about half of patients and usually do not reverse existing damage.
New research suggests that the LRG1 protein begins causing eye damage long before the VEGF protein. For this reason, scientists believe it may represent a promising new therapeutic target. A treatment designed to block LRG1 could intervene early and halt disease progression.
A potential new treatment for diabetic eye disease
A research team from University College London has developed a drug that targets the LRG1 protein. This treatment has been tested in previous studies.
Further pre-clinical research is currently underway. Scientists say it could move to clinical trials in humans in the near future.
Researchers believe this treatment may help prevent diabetic retinopathy from developing in the first place. It may also benefit people with advanced stages of the disease, since the LRG1 protein continues to contribute to retinal damage in later stages.