Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered that a molecule found on the surface of cells in the immune system also plays a role in the development of retinal degeneration.
The study, which has been published in Cell Reports, suggested that regulating the activity of the TLR2 molecule may prevent the progression of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Scientists implicated TLR2, which recognises chemical patterns associated with infection in the body, as ‘a critical bridge between oxidative damage and complement-mediated retinal degeneration.’
Dr Sarah Doyle, study lead and assistant professor of immunology at Trinity College Dublin, said: ‘The lack of approved therapies for AMD is mainly because the factors involved in triggering the disease are not very well understood. Understanding and identifying early molecular events that may trigger dry AMD will allow us to develop a more targeted approach to therapy. In this case, we believe that regulating the activity of TLR2 may, over time, help to prevent the progression of dry AMD.’