 |
|
Role identified for glaucoma gene and related signaling pathway
February 15, 2008Researchers have found that a gene and a related signaling pathway play a role in the development of glaucoma, which is a common cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. The team was led by Alcon Research and included investigators from the University of Iowa and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health.
The study, which revealed that over-expression of the gene, sFRP1, elevates pressure in the eye, could help improve glaucoma diagnosis and lead to the development of sight-saving treatments. The study results appeared online Feb. 14 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
"The cause of glaucoma and the resulting elevation of intraocular pressure has been poorly understood," said Abe Clark, Ph.D., Alcon's vice president of discovery research and head of glaucoma research. "This new discovery may allow researchers to develop therapies to treat the underlying cause of the disease."
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States and the leading cause among African-Americans. The disease damages the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, and leads to vision loss, especially peripheral vision. High pressure in the eye is often related to this nerve damage and vision loss.
"Although there have been leaps and bounds in glaucoma research, we are just beginning to understand the causes of high pressure in the eye and nerve damage that leads to vision loss in glaucoma," said study team member John Fingert, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine.
Jeffrey Rubin, M.D., Ph.D., at NCI's Center for Cancer Research, who was involved in the study, had previously discovered the sFRP1 gene. The team compared the genes that are expressed in the eyes of people with glaucoma to the genes that are expressed in people with healthy eyes. They saw that some genes, including sFRP1, are much more active, or "expressed," in cells from eyes with glaucoma.
sFRP1 is part of a signaling pathway involving a series of other genes known as the WNT-signaling pathway. The team tested the effects of the gene on the pressure in both human donor eyes and mouse eyes. When the investigators delivered sFRP1 protein to the eyes, the pressure in these eyes became elevated.
The results suggest that over-expression of sFRP1 disrupts the WNT-signaling pathway and seems to cause glaucoma's hallmark high pressure in the eyes. In addition, the team found that applying a substance that normalizes the WNT-signaling pathway significantly reduced high pressure in mouse eyes (this was not tested in human donor eyes).
"We are hopeful that further study of sFRP1 and the WNT-signaling pathway will help advance our understanding of why some people get glaucoma and others do not," Fingert said.
University of Iowa
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States and the leading cause among African-Americans. The disease damages the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, and leads to vision loss, especially peripheral vision. High pressure in the eye is often related to this nerve damage and vision loss.
"Although there have been leaps and bounds in glaucoma research, we are just beginning to understand the causes of high pressure in the eye and nerve damage that leads to vision loss in glaucoma," said study team member John Fingert, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine.
Jeffrey Rubin, M.D., Ph.D., at NCI's Center for Cancer Research, who was involved in the study, had previously discovered the sFRP1 gene. The team compared the genes that are expressed in the eyes of people with glaucoma to the genes that are expressed in people with healthy eyes. They saw that some genes, including sFRP1, are much more active, or "expressed," in cells from eyes with glaucoma.
sFRP1 is part of a signaling pathway involving a series of other genes known as the WNT-signaling pathway. The team tested the effects of the gene on the pressure in both human donor eyes and mouse eyes. When the investigators delivered sFRP1 protein to the eyes, the pressure in these eyes became elevated.
The results suggest that over-expression of sFRP1 disrupts the WNT-signaling pathway and seems to cause glaucoma's hallmark high pressure in the eyes. In addition, the team found that applying a substance that normalizes the WNT-signaling pathway significantly reduced high pressure in mouse eyes (this was not tested in human donor eyes).
"We are hopeful that further study of sFRP1 and the WNT-signaling pathway will help advance our understanding of why some people get glaucoma and others do not," Fingert said.
University of Iowa
Glaucoma Current Events and Glaucoma News RSSMedication slows progression of myopia in children
Daily treatment with a medication called pirenzepine can slow the rate of progressive myopia, or nearsightedness, in children, reports a study in the August issue of the Journal of AAPOS (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus).
Glaucoma procedure now available at Mayo Clinic aims to prevent further eye damage
For the first time in Florida, patients with glaucoma have a new treatment option known as the Trabectome.
Case Western Reserve and Penn State investigators inhibit corneal inflammation
Researchers from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Penn State Hershey College of Medicine identified a novel therapeutic that reduces sterile inflammation within the cornea.
Glaucoma report points to increased costs
A new Centre for Eye Research Australia/ Access Economics report shows the cost of glaucoma will more than double in the next two decades.
'Fluorescent' cells give early warning for eye disease
Scientists at the University of Michigan have shown that their new metabolic imaging instrument can accurately detect eye disease at a very early stage.
Cost of glaucoma medications may impact treatment
In the United States, the management of glaucoma costs about $2.5 billion per year. Of the $1.9 billion in direct costs, glaucoma medications account for an estimated 38% to 52% of the total.
Using fMRI to study brain development
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a powerful noninvasive tool for studying brain activity in both humans and experimental animals.
'Twinkle after-effect' can help retinal patients detect vision loss quickly and cheaply
Scientists at Schepens Eye Research Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, have discovered a simple and inexpensive way for patients with retinal and other eye disease to keep track of changes in their vision loss.
'Twinkle after effect' can help retinal patients detect vision loss quickly and cheaply
Scientists at Schepens Eye Research Institute have discovered a simple and inexpensive way for patients with retinal and other eye disease to keep track of changes in their vision loss.
Childhood vaccination may protect adult eyes
Childhood vaccination for the rubella virus may have also almost entirely eliminated an inflammatory eye disease from the U.S.-born population, according to a study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
More Glaucoma Current Events and Glaucoma News Articles
 | What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About(TM) Glaucoma: The Essential Treatments and Advances That Could Save Your Sight (What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About...) by Gregory K. Harmon, Nancy Intrator The latest title in the bestselling What Your Doctor May Not Tell You series offers readers the very best methods of defense against the 'sneak thief of sight'-glaucoma. Most people can recite the warning signs of cancer and heart disease, but how many know the facts about glaucoma? What readers don't know (but will discover in this vital guide) may one day save their sight. An insidious disease,... |
 | Glaucoma Diagnosis and Management by Deepak Gupta Inside this expertly written resource, you'll discover what every optometrist must know to ensure the accurate diagnosis and optimal management of glaucoma. Complete diagnostic coverage hones your skills with current information on risk factors, genetic factors, gonioscopy, visual field analysis, IOP measurement, corneal thickness evaluation, and optic nerve imaging. You'll also find... |
 | A Patient's Guide to Glaucoma by Young H Kwon, John H Fingert, Emily C Greenlee The Patient's Guide to Glaucoma is a very useful educational resource. The authors have done an excellent job of covering the pertinent aspects of glaucoma from the patient's perspective. It provides more complete explanations of aspects of glaucoma care than any other presently available resource. It will be very helpful to patients who want more information about medications, laser,... |
 | Glaucoma: A Patient's Guide to the Disease by Graham E. Trope Primary or chronic open angle glaucoma is a painless condition usually associated with high pressure in the eye. It affects approximately four per cent of all people over the age of fifty. Untreated, glaucoma is a major cause of blindness worldwide.The second edition of Glaucoma: A Patient's Guide to the Disease, published in 2001, offered essential information about glaucoma and its treatment,... |
 | Glaucoma: Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Ophtalmology (Wills Eye Series) by Douglas J. Rhee, Christopher J. Rapuano Quick reference and color atlases covering 5 sub-specialties in ophthalmology. Each book will cover the following areas: Epidemiology and Etiology; History Physical Examination; Differential Diagnosis;Laboratory and Special Examinations; Diagnosis; Prognosis;... |
 | Glaucoma Medical Therapy: Principles and Management (Ophthalmology Monographs) In recent years, a large number of drugs have been developed for the treatment of glaucoma. The clinical use of drugs for glaucoma therapy has evolved, adapting with the advent of each new drug. Clinicians need to understand, synthesize, and use data about medications that have specific benefits and risks for their glaucoma patients. The focus of this book is the current art and science of... |
| Glaucoma Surgery | |
 | Glaucoma Handbook by Anthony B. Litwak * Designed to meet the changing trends of health care * Concise clinical guide to diagnosing and treating patients with glaucoma * The first glaucoma handbook written by and for... |
 | Mechanisms of the Glaucomas: Disease Processes and Therapeutic Modalities The mechanisms of the various forms of glaucoma were unknown at the outset of the twentieth century. Late in the twentieth century, two nascent areas of research were beginning to provide glimpses of what the twenty-first century held in store for the future of glaucoma: the mechanisms of glaucomatous optic neuropathy and the molecular basis of the glaucomas. In Mechanisms of the Glaucomas:... |
 | Curbside Consultation in Glaucoma: 49 Clinical Questions (Curbside Consultation in Ophthalmology) Are you looking for concise, practical answers to those questions that are often left unanswered by traditional glaucoma references? Are you seeking brief, evidence-based advice for common clinical dilemmas? Curbside Consultation in Glaucoma: 49 Clinical Questions provides quick and direct answers to the thorny questions most commonly posed during a “curbside consultation” between glaucoma... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |