Scientists discover protein that protects against glaucoma

{{quote-a:r-w:400-I:2-Q:“This long-term collaborative study has opened up a completely new line of investigation in glaucoma research that will lead to new treatment avenues for the disease.”-WHO:Vivek Gupta, lead author}}The team from Macquarie University was able to establish that the protein neuroserpin is critical to a healthy retina, regulating other enzymes and maintaining a natural protective environment in the eye. It belongs to a family of proteins called serpins that are particularly sensitive to oxidation through environmental factors.“Over a long period of time, increased enzyme activity gradually digests the eye tissue and promotes cell death causing the adverse effects associated with glaucoma, a major blinding disorder among aged Australians,” lead author Dr Vivek Gupta from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences said.“This long-term collaborative study has opened up a completely new line of investigation in glaucoma research that will lead to new treatment avenues for the disease.”Ageing plays a major role in deactivating neuroserpins, along with diseases and other external factors causing oxidative stress. Once deactivated, it loses its ability to protect the eye, and the retina and optic nerve is compromised, leading to irreversible damage.Gupta pointed out the findings would be used to explore genetic engineering techniques to generate modified neuroserpin proteinm that is resistant to oxidation. They will also aim to make the protein sustainably available in the eye, in order to inhibit the damaging enzymes and protect eyesight.“Ophthalmologists and vision scientists have always wondered what damages the optic nerve in the back of the eyes, which is widely observed in glaucoma. The breakthrough findings of this study help us understand the disease mechanism and answer a key question that has eluded scientists for several years,” study co-author Dr Mehdi Mirzaei added.The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports, and future research is expected to investigate if antioxidants can play an important role in protecting the eyes in glaucoma.