A new study has discovered a link between retinal DNA damage and sight loss. Understanding such mechanisms could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies in preventing age-related macular degeneration.
A research team from the University of California, Irvine, has identified a key factor in the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), namely, DNA damage in the retina. The discovery could pave the way for a new understanding and new treatments of one of the major causes of blindness in people over 50. Every year, AMD affects approximately 200,000 Americans, significantly jeopardising their quality of life.
“Our findings highlight the critical role DNA damage repair plays in maintaining retina health for good vision,” said co-corresponding author Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk, UC Irvine associate professor of physiology and biophysics. “Because age is the strongest risk factor for AMD, gaining deeper insights into the underlying biology of aging in the eye is essential for developing effective therapies.”
The link between age and macular degeneration
The retina, a light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, is highly vulnerable to oxidative stress due to its constant exposure to light and its intense metabolic activity. This stress contributes to accumulated DNA damage, which is connected to age and AMD progression.
To better understand this phenomenon, researchers conducted their experiments on two groups of mice, one composed of mice with reduced levels of ERCC1-XPF, a DNA repair enzyme, and the other made up of young, healthy mice and naturally aging mice. Results showed that mice with reduced DNA repair enzyme develop signs of retinal degeneration at three months of age. Among observed anomalies were structural alterations in the retina, abnormal blood vessel formation, genetic and metabolic alterations, and mitochondrial dysfunction in the retinal pigment epithelium.
Implications for future research
The results described above suggest that similar dynamics could also happen in the human eye, making DNA repair a key objective in future therapies. “The more we know about how DNA damage contributes to eye diseases like AMD, [the better] we can develop interventions that address the root causes of vision loss.” Skowronska-Krawczyk said. “These could include strategies to counteract oxidative stress, enhance DNA repair or even remove damaged cells before they cause harm”.
The team plans to keep investigating the cell types involved in retinal age-related processes, with the aim to advance the development of preventative interventions that significantly reduce the burden of age-related vision loss. This research could mark an important step forward towards improving the quality of life for millions.”