Autophagy and blindness
Siberian scientists are investigating a violation of the autophagy process
Specialists of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS are beginning to study the mechanisms of violation of self-programmed cell death (autophagy), affecting the development of age–related macular degeneration (AMD) of the retina - a disease that leads to vision loss in people over 60 years old.
According to the World Health Organization, by 2040 the number of AMD patients will increase by 288 million. Modern statistics show that 15 out of 1000 people suffer from this disease. In the age group from 52 to 64 years, the frequency of AMD is 1.6%, from 65 to 74 – 15%, from 75 to 84 – 25%, over 85 years – 30%.
In addition to the age factor, the degradation of the pigment epithelium and retinal layers is influenced by genetic predisposition, unbalanced nutrition, smoking, impaired protein and fat metabolism, autoimmune inflammatory reactions. However, it is not yet possible to predict the risks of developing the disease and the rate of its progression. The problem is that AMD can be asymptomatic, and when its signs appear, treatment will no longer help.
All of these factors lead to disorders in our body, including disruptions in the work of cells. So, in the process of cellular cleaning (autophagy), thanks to which there is a disposal of all the old components that have fulfilled their role, a failure occurs. In fact, it's like home cleaning, when everything superfluous and unnecessary is collected in bags, and then thrown away. It's the same with the cell: it removes "expired" intracellular components, toxic proteins. If a person has a bad heredity and does not monitor his health, then there is a possibility that this process may be disrupted. The cell will not be able to self-regulate its condition: damage to healthy components, accumulation of toxic substances will occur. The cellular "apartment" will become uninhabitable.
Violation of retinal autophagy begins in the pigment epithelium. The cells of this layer cease to perform their functions – to feed photoreceptors and capillaries. Visual acuity gradually decreases and visual functions are inhibited, which leads to loss of central vision and blindness.
In the laboratory of molecular genetic mechanisms of neurodegenerative processes of the FIT ICiG SB RAS, a group of geneticists led by the chief researcher of the Doctor of Biological Sciences Natalia Gorislavovna Kolosova examines the stages of autophagy of the eye to understand at what point their self-regulation fails. In the experiment, scientists are going to use laboratory rats.
"We want to find out how retinal proteins interact with each other when autophagy is impaired. We need to understand whether it is possible to reverse this process," said researcher of the ICIG SB RAS Candidate of Biological Sciences Oyuna Suranzanovna Kozhevnikova.
For this research, the laboratory of genetic mechanisms of neurodegenerative processes of ICiG SB RAS received a grant in the "youth" competition of the presidential program of research projects in 2018.
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