Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have made a major breakthrough with implications for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The scientists found that a component of the immune system, interleukin-18 (IL-18), acted as a guardian of eyesight by suppressing the production of damaging blood vessels behind the retina. In pre-clinical models, it was shown that IL-18 could be administered in a non-invasive way, which could represent a major improvement on the current therapeutic options.
According to a Fox News report, researchers mimicked the damage that wet AMD patients experienced by using a very fine laser to damage the back of mice eyes. They then administered a form of IL-18 that GlaxoSmithKline had been developing as a cancer therapy.
This drug screening showed that IL-18 was able to prevent the leakiness of the blood vessels into the retina, as well as stop their overgrowth.
‘We were initially concerned that IL-18 might cause damage to the sensitive cells of the retina, because it is typically linked to inflammation. But surprisingly we found that low doses had no adverse effects on the retina and yet still suppressed abnormal blood vessel growth,’ said assistant professor in Immunology at Trinity, Sarah Doyle.
