Cells in the Eye Can Protect or Kill

This month’s edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) sees the first real indication as to what role a molecule called proNGF actually plays within the eye. Scientist appear to have found that this molecule has a split personality as it usually helps protect neurons within the eye along with glial cells, but it can also trigger these cells into actually kill these neurons. The researchers of this study believe that prevention of proNGF triggering glial cells could lead to potential benefits for various eye diseases, e.g. glaucoma.

The study was conducted by collaborating Universities; the Université de Namur (Belgium), Université de Motreal, Montreal Neurological Institute and McGill University (Canada). The discovered role of the molecule proNGF has been found to activate glial cells within the retina and the brain that are normally protecting the neurons here. Once proGNF triggers the glial cells they will begin to attack the neurons and kill them which will then cause visual impairments and even blindness as once the neurons have died there is no way to replace them. The researchers believe that the destructive trigger of proNGF stems from brain damage or a neurodegenerative disease that causes the molecule to change the function of the glial cells, turning them to attackers not protectors.

One of the lead researchers of this study, Dr. Adriana Di Polo is determined that scientist now need to focus on just how much damage the proNGF molecule could cause due to the fact that the triggers it are causing are damaging something that is irreplaceable. She proposes that the next step is to begin an exploration into whether the signals given off by proNGF can be controlled or inhibited as prevention of this could be the key to helping prevent diseases such as glaucoma from taking hold.

4th February 2010

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