Stopping Degeneration in its Tracks Part Two
GARP2 and GARP1 aren’t the only things that can negatively affect vision. Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) can lead to too many blood vessels in the eye, also known as neovascularization. This leads to vision loss in persons with diabetic retinopathy and plays a role in age-related macular degeneration. Anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs […]
Good for One, Bad for Another
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a protein that our bodies produce to promote the growth of new blood vessels. This is a good thing since more blood vessels mean more oxygen goes to the tissues. The lungs have VEGF because blood flow is so important. Of course, what’s good for one organ isn’t good […]
Regeneration in the Retina
The human body has an amazing ability to heal itself. If you get a paper cut, the cut heals in seven to ten days. If you get a bruise, it heals within two to four weeks. If you get a broken bone, it takes three to ten weeks to heal. An injury to the retina […]
Retina Patterns Tell a Story
No one has to sell eye doctors on how cool the human eye is. One interesting area of the eye that is being researched is the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). This is the layer of cells that is next to the retina. It acts as a conduit between the photoreceptors of the retina and the […]