Researchers at the University of Kentucky have announced a major breakthrough in the prevention and early detection of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The condition affects between 10 million and 12 million Americans and is the number-one cause of blindness among seniors.
Atthe annual meeting of the American Medical Association on Monday,researchers identified a biological marker, known as CCR3, that theysay is integral to the development and progression of eye disease.AMD is caused when new, abnormal blood cells invade the retina andinterfere with the eye’s ability to receive oxygen and nutrients ina process called choroidal novascularization (CNV).
The CCR3 marker,which also plays a role in the inflammation process, was found on theCNV vessels, but not on normal vascular tissue, according to thereport.Byinjecting anti-CCR3 antibodies into mice, researchers were able tosee the CCR3 markers on the CNV vessels before the new abnormal bloodcells invaded the retinas, causing irreversible damage. Early therapytest results appeared promising, with 70% reductions in CNV among thetest mice, according to the report.
The findings were publishedSunday in the online version of the journal Nature and will appearin an upcoming print issue.
