Un compuesto del sistema inmunológico,
la IL-18, podría convertirse en la diana ideal para diseñar tratamientos contra
la degeneración macular asociada a la edad (DMAE). De hecho, un equipo de
investigadores irlandeses ha visto que la IL-18 actúa como una especie de 'guardián de la vista' al suprimir la formación de
vasos sanguíneos dañados detrás de la retina y en la parte posterior del ojo.
Los expertos del Trinity College de
Dublín, que ya publicaron en «Nature
Medicine» un trabajo previo sobre este tema, han visto que, en
modelos preclínicos -ratones-, es posible administrar la IL-18 de una manera
segura algo que, señalan, «podría representar una mejora
significativa en las opciones terapéuticas actuales para estos pacientes».
«Al principio estábamos preocupados
de que la IL-18 pudiera causar daño sobre las células sensibles de la retina,
ya que este compuesto suele estar vinculado con la inflamación. Pero,
sorprendentemente vimos que, a dosis bajas, la IL-18 no causaba efectos
adversos en la retina y, sin embargo sí elimina el crecimiento anómalo de los
vasos sanguíneos», señala Sarah Doyle, autora del artículo que se publica en «Science
Translational Medicine».
Causa de ceguera
La DMAE es una de las formas más
comunes de ceguera entre la población de edad avanzada, explica a ABC Alfredo
García Layana, de laClínica
Universidad de Navarra. La enfermedad produce una pérdida de la
visión central, lo que hace que las personas que la sufren en fases avanzadas
vean alterada su calidad de vida al no poder leer, ver la televisión, conducir
o usar ordenadores.
Hay dos formas de DMAE: ‘seca’ y ‘húmeda’. La primera es responsable de
la mayoría de los casos, mientras que la ‘húmeda’ causa el 90 % de la ceguera
asociada con la enfermedad. En la DMAE húmeda, explica Doyle, los vasos
sanguíneos situados detrás de la retina comienzan a crecer de forma anormal, lo
que es causa casi inmediata de ceguera central. Y, debido a que la visión
central representa casi la totalidad de nuestra agudeza visual durante el día,
los pacientes con esta patología ven alterada su calidad de vida cada día.
Fuente : ABC Salud
A protein of the immune system fights
macular degeneration
A compound of the immune system, IL-18, could become the ideal to design treatments for macular degeneration (AMD) target. In fact, a team of Irish researchers have seen that IL-18 acts as a sort of 'guardian of sight' to suppress the formation of damaged behind the retina and blood vessels in the back of the eye. Experts from Trinity College Dublin, already published in 'Nature Medicine' previous work on this subject, have seen that in preclinical models -ratones- is possible to administer the IL-18 safely rather than, say, "It could represent a significant improvement in current therapeutic options for these patients."
"At first we were worried that IL-18 could cause damage to sensitive cells of the retina, since this compound is often linked with inflammation. But surprisingly seen that, at low doses, the IL-18 did not cause adverse effects in the retina and yet does eliminate the abnormal growth of blood vessels, "says Sarah Doyle, author of the article published in 'Science Translational Medicine ».
A compound of the immune system, IL-18, could become the ideal to design treatments for macular degeneration (AMD) target. In fact, a team of Irish researchers have seen that IL-18 acts as a sort of 'guardian of sight' to suppress the formation of damaged behind the retina and blood vessels in the back of the eye. Experts from Trinity College Dublin, already published in 'Nature Medicine' previous work on this subject, have seen that in preclinical models -ratones- is possible to administer the IL-18 safely rather than, say, "It could represent a significant improvement in current therapeutic options for these patients."
"At first we were worried that IL-18 could cause damage to sensitive cells of the retina, since this compound is often linked with inflammation. But surprisingly seen that, at low doses, the IL-18 did not cause adverse effects in the retina and yet does eliminate the abnormal growth of blood vessels, "says Sarah Doyle, author of the article published in 'Science Translational Medicine ».
Cause of Blindness
AMD is one of the most common forms of blindness among the elderly population, he told ABC Alfredo García Layana, laClínica University of Navarra. The disease causes a loss of central vision, which makes people who suffer in advanced stages see altered their quality of life being unable to read, watch TV, drive or use computers.
There are two forms of AMD: 'dry' and 'wet'. The first is responsible for most cases, while the 'wet' causes 90% of blindness associated with the disease. In wet AMD, Doyle explains, the blood vessels located behind the retina start to grow abnormally, which is almost immediate cause central blindness. And, because the central vision represents almost all of our visual acuity during the day, patients with this disease are impaired quality of life every day.
Source : ABC Salud
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario