Experimental Medication Heals Eye Damage And Restores Sight In Mice

A new study suggests that  antibodies  can push our eyes into an enhanced repair mode, stimulating nerve cell regeneration in the retina beyond their normal healing capacity.

New Treatment Shows Promise for Restoring Vision by Targeting Prox1 in Mice

The South Korean research team sees this treatment as a potential breakthrough for restoring vision once thought irreversible—though they’ve only tested it in mice so far.

Here’s how it works: the therapy uses a compound antibody drug to block the  prospero homeobox protein 1 (Prox1). While Prox1 normally helps regulate cells, it seems to prevent retinal nerve regeneration.

After eye damage, Prox1 enters retinal support cells known as Müller glia (MG) cells, disrupting their ability to regenerate. In zebrafish, MG cells can heal retinal nerve cells, but in mammals, Prox1 suppresses this function—something the new treatment aims to reverse.

Challenges in Restoring Vision Due to Limited Retinal Cell Regeneration in Mammals

“People with retinal degenerative conditions struggle to regain vision because they can’t regenerate retinal cells,” the researchers explain.

“Unlike cold-blooded vertebrates, mammals don’t have MG-driven retinal regeneration, highlighting the limited healing ability of mammalian MG cells.”

The researchers successfully tested their Prox1-blocking method in lab and mice models, suggesting they could eventually adapt it for human use with further development.

Notably, the treatment’s effects lasted for at least six months, marking the first instance of long-term neural retina regeneration observed in mammals.

“In mice, Prox1 in MG cells comes from nearby retinal neurons through cell-to-cell transfer,” the researchers explain. Blocking this transfer allows MG cells to reprogram into retinal progenitor cells in damaged mouse retinas.

Unlocking Eye Cell Regeneration: Path to Clinical Trials and New Repair Methods

Although researchers still need to do much more work before human trials, the study identifies a key biological reason mammals can’t regenerate eye cells—and shows that it’s possible to activate their self-healing potential. The researchers estimate that clinical trials could start by 2028.

This study ties into other research exploring potential methods for repairing eye damage, such as using lasers to activate retinal cells or transplanting stem cells into the eye. Numerous approaches are being considered.

Degenerative retinal diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and glaucoma impact hundreds of millions worldwide, and once vision is lost, it’s typically irreversible.

With the global population aging, these findings could be crucial for ensuring a higher quality of life in older age, potentially preventing the vision loss that many experience.

Read the original article on: Sciencealert

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