Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 28, 2025 1 day, 15 hours, 35 minutes ago
Medical News: A New Hope for Vision Preservation
Vision impairment and blindness often result from damage to photoreceptor cells in the retina, which are essential for capturing and processing light. Recent research conducted by scientists from the Department of Cell Biology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center provides promising evidence that resveratrol, a natural antioxidant found in foods like grapes and berries, can help protect these cells from degeneration.
Murine Study Finds That Resveratrol Protects Against Retinal Degeneration
The study, which focused on mouse models of retinal degeneration, explored how resveratrol can mitigate damage caused by oxidative stress - a key factor in the death of photoreceptor cells. This
Medical News report delves into the findings and their implications for treating both inherited and age-related retinal diseases.
Understanding Retinal Degeneration
Retinal degeneration affects millions worldwide, causing blindness through the loss of rod and cone photoreceptors. While rods are vital for vision in dim light, cones are responsible for color vision and sharpness. Diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) often lead to progressive degeneration of these cells. Age-related conditions like macular degeneration are also significant contributors to vision loss.
One notable cause of damage in retinal cells is excessive thyroid hormone (TH) signaling, which triggers oxidative stress. In this study, researchers induced retinal degeneration in mice by administering triiodothyronine (T3), a type of TH. They then tested whether resveratrol could counteract the damage.
Key Findings of the Study
The study was conducted on multiple mouse models, including C57BL/6 mice (rod-dominant retinas) and Nrl−/− mice (cone-dominant retinas). Here are the main findings:
-Protection Against Oxidative Damage
Mice treated with T3 exhibited significant oxidative stress, leading to photoreceptor damage and death. However, those that received resveratrol along with T3 showed reduced oxidative damage. Immunofluorescence tests confirmed a significant decrease in oxidative stress markers in retinas of resveratrol-treated mice.
-Preservation of Retinal Cells
Resveratrol treatment preserved the thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL), which contains rod photoreceptors. Mice treated with T3 alone experienced a 25% reduction in ONL thickness, while resveratrol-treated mice maintained near-normal levels.
-Reduced Apoptosis in Retinal Cells
TUNEL assays, which detect DNA fragmentation due to apoptosis, revealed a higher number of dying photoreceptor cells in T3-treated mice. Resveratrol significantly reduced these numbers, showing its potential to prevent programmed cell death in photoreceptors.
-Gene Expression and Inflamm
ation
T3 treatment upregulated genes involved in inflammation and cell death. Resveratrol effectively inhibited these genetic changes, reducing inflammation and cellular stress.
-Impact on Inherited Retinal Degeneration
The researchers also studied Rpe65-deficient mice, a model for LCA. These mice, which suffer from early-onset cone degeneration, showed improved cone survival when treated with resveratrol. Cone density was significantly higher in resveratrol-treated mice, particularly in the ventral retina, which is more susceptible to degeneration.
Broader Implications and Future Research
These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of antioxidants like resveratrol in managing retinal diseases. By reducing oxidative stress and preventing cell death, resveratrol could play a role in slowing or halting vision loss in conditions driven by oxidative damage.
However, the study also revealed limitations. While resveratrol preserved retinal cells, it did not fully restore their function, as measured by electroretinograms (ERGs). Researchers suggest that higher doses or longer treatment durations may yield better functional outcomes. Additionally, further studies are needed to explore whether resveratrol’s benefits extend to human patients and whether it can be combined with other therapies for improved efficacy.
Conclusions
This research underscores the critical role of oxidative stress in retinal degeneration and points to resveratrol as a promising intervention. By preserving photoreceptors and reducing retinal stress responses, resveratrol could offer hope to individuals facing vision loss due to both genetic and age-related conditions. These findings pave the way for future studies to optimize resveratrol’s use and evaluate its effectiveness in human clinical trials.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Antioxidants.
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/2/154
For the latest on Retinal Degeneration, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
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