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New protein may reverse two major eye diseases
Published on Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 17:06 in 
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New York: Scientists in the US have discovered a protein that may be able to reverse two major eye diseases that can lead to blindness.
Inside the Eccles Human Genetics Lab, researchers successfully activated a protein in mice that both prevented and reversed age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
London speaks of this protein called robo4 which when triggered, reversed abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye. It also stabilized the vessels to prevent leakage. These are the major villains in the two eye diseases.
"We were able to induce retinopathy or macular degeneration, and then reverse the process with a protein that binds to the robo4 receptor,” said graduate researcher Nyall London, who deals with human molecular biology and genetics.
Results of the mouse models look good right now and human clinical trials are sure to follow. Those trials could begin within five years.
Ralph Johnson, a patient of macular degeneration in both eyes might be a participant in those trials.
Johnson explained his condition: "Most of the things I can see – pretty much everybody in the room except their faces.”
The architecture of Ralph’s eye has changed due to leakage and bleeding.
In retinopathy, bleeding occurs in front of the macula. Activation of the robo4 protein might have prevented the need for surgery that produced all the scarring in this eye.
Beyond macular degeneration and retinopathy – robo4 might even have applications in treating SARS or pulmonary oedema, where blood leaks into the lung's airway spaces.
"Pandemic influenza – bird flu – other settings where respiratory infections actually cause a remarkable amount of vascular leak,” London said, when asked about the ramifications of triggering off the robo4 protein.
Though the experiments for now are only in mice, the National Eye Institute of the US is calling the discovery a major scientific advancement.
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New research shows that a gene called Robo4 could help curb or prevent two leading causes of blindness: age-related macular
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