Assessing the “Eye Age” May Enable Precise Treatments

Scientists have pinpointed proteins specific to certain cells in the eye’s fluid and employed artificial intelligence to identify which proteins expedited the aging process in specific diseases. Gaining insight into the source of these disease-propelling proteins at the cellular level has the potential to result in tailored treatments and more knowledge-driven clinical trials.

Studying cells is a crucial aspect of comprehending the mechanisms of diseases. Nevertheless, in non-regenerating organs like the eye, obtaining tissue samples is unfeasible as it would inflict harm. As a result, researchers need to employ innovative approaches.

Analyzing Cell-Specific Proteins in Eye Fluid to Determine Eye Age

Stanford Medicine researchers achieved this by creating a method to analyze cell-specific proteins present in the aqueous humor, which is the nourishing fluid in the anterior part of the eye. They harnessed artificial intelligence to ascertain an individual’s ‘eye age’ and how it is influenced by diseases.

To identify the proteins in the fluid, the researchers collected aqueous humor from 46 healthy individuals. They employed a method they developed called TEMPO (tracing expression of multiple protein origins) to track these proteins back to the specific cell types in which the RNA responsible for producing those proteins is located.

“As a crucial first step in developing any effective therapy, comprehending the molecules is essential,” noted Vinit Mahajan, who served as the corresponding author of the study. “At the molecular level, patients can display distinct manifestations, even when they have the same disease. By using a molecular fingerprint like the one we’ve established, we can select drugs that are tailored to each patient.”

Predicting Age and Investigating Eye Diseases

The researchers identified a total of 5,953 proteins in the aqueous humor and supplied this data to an AI algorithm to assess if a subset of proteins could predict a patient’s age. They identified 26 proteins that, when used together, could predict the patient’s age. Additionally, aqueous humor was collected from individuals with three different eye diseases: diabetic retinopathy, which results in the leakage of blood vessels in the eye, leading to vision loss; retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes the deterioration of light-sensitive cells in the back of the eye; and uveitis, characterized by inflammation inside the eye.

Upon comparing the fluid from diseased eyes with that of healthy eyes, the researchers observed that proteins in the eyes affected by disease indicated an older cellular age. For patients in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, the cells appeared to be 12 years older, while in those with advanced retinopathy, the cells appeared 31 years older. In patients with retinitis pigmentosa and uveitis, the cells exhibited an age that was 29 years older.

“This represents one of the most significant connections ever made, indicating that disease is a catalyst for accelerated aging,” commented Mahajan.

The AI model also revealed that the cells responsible for indicating an elevated ocular age varied depending on the disease under examination. In advanced diabetic retinopathy, it was vascular cells, while in retinitis pigmentosa, it was retinal cells, and in uveitis, it was immune cells.

Overlooked Cells in Disease Treatment

The research disclosed that certain cells affected by these diseases are not typically the target of treatments, suggesting the need for a reassessment of current therapeutic approaches.

Importantly, the researchers found that some cells exhibited accelerated aging even before symptoms manifested, which implies that treatment could commence at an earlier stage to prevent irreversible damage. By targeting both aging and disease-related cells, treatment may become more effective, as these factors act independently but simultaneously to contribute to eye damage.

Furthermore, the researchers suggest that their findings can offer valuable insights for future clinical trials by providing a more detailed understanding of the cellular processes driving these diseases.

“It’s as though we’re holding these living cells in our hands and scrutinizing them under a microscope,” Mahajan explained. “We’re delving deep and gaining an intimate, molecular-level understanding of our patients, which will enable precision healthcare and more informed clinical trials.”

The researchers intend to apply the TEMPO technique and aging clock to other bodily fluids, such as liver bile and joint fluid.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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