Discovery could assist people with photophobia

According to a research team led by Dr Jin Woo Kim, the overall composition of retinal interneurons called amacrine cells have an impact on visual responses.Kim said this was significant, as they could prove light sensitivity was controlled by small changes in the cells.The team, from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, also identified a protein called Tgfb1i1, which according to the research paper, “interacts with two transcription factors to form a ‘complex’ that binds to the alpha-enhancer and blocks the production of a particular form of Paired-homeobox 6 (Pax6).“In experiments performed in mice, the loss of Tgfb1i1 led to increased production of this form of Pax6, which resulted in the retina containing more of a certain type of amacrine cell that produces a molecule called GABA.”The South Korean Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, said the finding would be used for further studies aimed at providing therapy for people with acute to severe sensitivity to light. It could also help develop devices or automated support for people working in dark environments.