Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found that by blocking two tiny molecules of RNA “a chemical cousin of DNA” can suppress the abnormal growth of blood vessels that occurs in degenerative eye disorders.
Their findings suggest a potential strategy to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a vascular eye disorder.
MicroRNAs are tiny pieces of genetic material that can target multiple components of signaling pathways. By interacting with other protein-making molecules in cells, they help fine-tune the expression of networks of genes and control cell function.
age-related macular degeneration
In the study, Dr. Shusheng Wang, assistant professor of ophthalmology and pharmacology and co-senior author of the study and colleagues found that silencing the microRNA cluster members miR-23 and miR-27 hindered the excessive formation of blood vessels in the back of the eye, known as choroidal neovascularization. When these blood vessels hemorrhage and leak, it creates a sudden deterioration of central vision.
But microRNAs also can contribute to the excessive blood vessel formation that is responsible for vascular disorders, the current UT Southwestern study shows. That’s because they stimulate the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, a process called angiogenesis, which is an important natural process in the body used for healing and reproduction.
The study has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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