Protein blocking may prevent blinding disease

Blocking a protein that battles infection may help thwart a common cause of vision loss in chronic diseases such as diabetes, Medical College of Georgia (Augusta) researchers say. The protein, interleukin-6, prompts inflammation—a healthy and sometimes lifesaving defense against invaders such as bacteria and viruses. But the protein’s action “is bad in diseases like diabetes because the inflammation is chronic,” said Dr. Wenbo Zhang, a senior postdoctoral fellow in the MCG Vascular Biology Center.
The key insult in diabetes is excess glucose, which causes inflammation and unleashes a cascade of complications. Dr. Zhang is dissecting the relationship of interleukin-6 and diabetic retinopathy to see if blocking this pro-inflammatory protein can target a new treatment for the potentially blinding disease, the college said in a news release. Dr. Zhang will determine whether increased levels of interleukin-6 in the vitreous, a gel-like substance in the center of the eye, will prompt small blood vessels in the retina to leak. Fluid then collects in the retina, causing swelling and blurred vision. Unchecked, this can lead to proliferation of new blood vessels, which further obstruct vision.

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