Blocking a certain protein may help prevent blindness
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028819
New Scientist : Age-related macular degeneration, which can eventually lead to blindness, is caused by the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina. The weakened vessels can then leak blood, resulting in a hemorrhage. To better understand the processes involved, researchers led by Alain Chédotal of the Institute of Vision in Paris studied the effect of a certain protein, Slit2, on angiogenesis . In experiments conducted on mice, the researchers found that suppressing production of that protein severely reduced the growth of retinal blood vessels. Thus controlling Slit2 might also “block the chaotic development of blood vessels in ocular diseases,” according to Chédotal.
