Eye drops with a caspase-9 inhibitor prevent retinal injury from retinal vein occlusion. In the left image, RVO causes swelling in the retina and the retinal layers are less distinct. In the right image, the eye drops have restored the distinct layers of the retina. (Troy lab)
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have developed eye drops that could prevent vision loss after retinal vein occlusion, a major cause of blindness for millions of adults worldwide.
A study, in mice, suggests that the experimental therapy—which targets a common cause of neurodegeneration and vascular leakage in the eye—could have broader therapeutic effects than existing drugs.
The study was published in Nature Communications.
What is Retinal Vein Occlusion?
Retinal vein occlusion occurs when a major vein that drains blood from the retina is blocked, usually due to a blood clot. As a result, blood and other fluids leak into the retina, damaging specialized light-sensing neurons called photoreceptors.
Standard treatment for the condition currently relies on drugs that reduce fluid leakage from blood vessels and abnormal blood vessel growth. But there are significant drawbacks. These therapies require repeated injections directly into the eye, and for the patients who brave this daunting prospect, the treatment ultimately fails to prevent vision loss in the majority of cases.
The new treatment targets an enzyme called caspase-9, says Carol M. Troy, MD, PhD, professor of pathology & cell biology and of neurology in the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, who led the studies. Under normal conditions, caspase-9 is believed to be primarily involved in programmed cell death, a tightly regulated mechanism for naturally eliminating damaged or excess cells.
In studies of mice, the Troy lab discovered that when blood vessels are injured by retinal vein occlusion, caspase-9 becomes uncontrollably activated, triggering processes that can damage the retina.
Eye Drops Prevent Retinal Injury
The Troy lab found that a highly selective caspase-9 inhibitor, delivered in the form of eye drops, improved a variety of clinical measures of retinal function in a mouse model of the condition. Most importantly, the treatment reduced swelling, improved blood flow, and decreased neuronal damage in the retina.
“We believe these eye drops may offer several advantages over existing therapies,” says Troy. “Patients could administer the drug themselves and wouldn’t have to get a series of injections. Also, our eye drops target a different pathway of retinal injury and thus may help patients who do not respond to the current therapy.”
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Retinal vein occlusion
- Review of Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy in Macular Edema Secondary to Central Retinal Vein Occlusions
Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is a common retinal vascular disorder with potential risk of blindness. CRVO can be categorized into two distinct entities – non-ischemic and ischemic.
- Ranibizumab for Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion
3) RVO duration between 6 weeks to 9 months. 4) CFT ≥ 250 μm RCT = prospective randomized controlled; RVO = retinal vein occlusion; IVR = intravitreal ranibizumab; M = multicenter; CRVO ...
- Retinal Disorder Treatment Market Report Analysis With Industry Share Published by Leading Research Firm
and retinal vein occlusion. Macular degeneration is of two types: wet age-related macular degeneration and dry age-related macular degeneration. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the common diabetic ...
- Retinal Vein Occlusion Market Trend Shows a Rapid Growth During Forecast – Key Players ALLERGAN, Bayer AG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Regeneron
Retinal Vein Occlusion Market Research: San Francisco, United States: The Retinal Vein Occlusion research report covers global current market size estimation, market situation, structure ...
- Predicting Visual Outcomes and Visual Improvement in Macular Edema Due to CRVO
Dhoot, MD, an ophthalmologist with California Retina Consultants, presents the results of a post hoc analysis of patients with macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion in the phase 3 ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Retinal vein occlusion
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Vascular dysfunction
- Digesting Meat Increases Risk for Heart Disease
As meat is digested in the intestinal tract, gut microbes produce chemicals that increase the risk for heart disease, according to a study published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular ...
- LeMaitre Vascular expands cleanroom on Second Ave
BURLINGTON - The Planning Board approved a special permit to renovate an existing 7,000 square-foot space on LeMaitre Vascular’s 63 Second Ave property.
- Modern Heart and Vascular Opens an Office in the Woodlands, Texas
Modern Heart and Vascular offers on-site testing for your convenience and assurance of exceptional quality, accuracy, and timely follow-up. The new office address is 3117 College Park, Suite 200 The ...
- Increased heart disease risk from red meat may stem from gut microbe response to digestion
A new study found that chemicals produced in the digestive tract by gut microbes after eating red meat (such as beef, pork, bison, venison) explained a significant portion ...
- Buffalo center fuels research that can save your life from heart disease and stroke
Medical school, research center foster translational medicine, which combines disciplines, resources and techniques to move benchtop research to the patient bedside, eventually strengthening community ...
