home   genetic news   bioinformatics   biotechnology   literature   journals   ethics   positions   events   sitemap
 
  HUM-MOLGEN -> Genetic News | search  
 

Cone Starvation In Retinitis Pigmentosa

 
  December, 10 2008 20:19
your information resource in human molecular genetics
 
     

Progressive loss of vision associated with the disease Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is caused by cone cells starving from lack of nutrients and degrading their own parts, reports a study online in Nature Neuroscience. The results reveal a possible therapeutic target for the future treatment of RP.

Cones are light-sensing cells that mediate day-vision, whereas rod cells help us to see in darker conditions. Cones are not affected by the genetic mutations associated with RP, but there is a puzzling, progressive loss of cones that occurs with the disease.

Using mouse models of RP, Constance Cepko and colleagues found that cone cell death is caused by nutrient deprivation resulting from the loss of rod cells, which are affected by the genetic mutations associated with RP. This in turn, causes starving cones to break down their own cellular components and leads to the eventual complete loss of cones. The team also identified the insulin pathway as critical for this process, and found that systemic insulin injections improved cone survival in one mouse model of RP.

RP is associated with several different genetic mutations, but cone loss is a universal signature of the disease. This study therefore offers a plausible therapeutic target that could be used to treat the different varieties of RP.

Author contact:

Constance Cepko (Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA)
E-mail: cepko@genetics.med.harvard.edu

Abstract available online.

(C) Nature Neuroscience press release.


Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza

print this article mail this article
Latest News
Variants Associated with Pediatric Allergic Disorder

Mutations in PHF6 Found in T-Cell Leukemia

Genetic Risk Variant for Urinary Bladder Cancer

Antibody Has Therapeutic Effect on Mice with ALS

Regulating P53 Activity in Cancer Cells

Anti-RNA Therapy Counters Breast Cancer Spread

Mitochondrial DNA Diversity

The Power of RNA Sequencing

‘Pro-Ageing' Therapy for Cancer?

Niche Genetics Influence Leukaemia

Molecular Biology: Clinical Promise for RNA Interference

Chemoprevention Cocktail for Colon Cancer

more news ...

Generated by News Editor 2.0 by Kai Garlipp
WWW: Kai Garlipp, Frank S. Zollmann.
7.0 © 1995-2023 HUM-MOLGEN. All rights reserved. Liability, Copyright and Imprint.