SCIENTISTS DISCOVER NEW CAUSE OF GLAUCOMA
Scientists
have revealed that they have discovered a novel cause of glaucoma in an animal
model and are developing an eye drop aimed at curing the disease.
The new study for the first time
identifies the molecular building blocks needed to make the 'drainage' vessels,
providing the necessary chemical tools to repair the eye's plumbing and restore
normal drainage. Up until now, the molecular basis of the disease caused by an
absent or defective canal was unknown.
Senior study author and
Northwestern Medicine nephrologist Susan Quaggin said that this is a big step
forward in understanding the cause of the disease that steals the eyesight from
60 million people worldwide, which gives them a foothold to develop new
treatments.
The findings are based on a new
mouse model of glaucoma developed by the researchers is one of the first animal
models of the disease and researchers expect the animal findings to be relevant
in human glaucoma.
The researchers have developed a
highly potent peptide nanostructure that has the capacity to interact with many
receptors at the same time, which will amplify the required signaling pathway
for an effective therapy. The nanostructure is also being designed to have the
necessary half-life to optimize efficacy.
The study was The Journal of
Clinical Investigation.
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