Breakthrough mRNA Therapy May Prevent Blindness from Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy
- A new study from Mass Eye and Ear shows that a new mRNA-based therapy may prevent blindness from proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) after retinal detachment or eye injuries.
- "The therapy delivers mRNA treatments inside the eye," said Dr.
- PVR is scar tissue that can develop inside the eye after trauma, leading to retinal detachment and possible blindness.
A new study from Mass Eye and Ear shows that a new mRNA-based therapy may prevent blindness from proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) after retinal detachment or eye injuries. Currently, the only treatment for PVR is surgery, which may worsen the condition. This research, published in Science Translational Medicine, highlights the potential of mRNA therapies for PVR and other retinal issues.
“The therapy delivers mRNA treatments inside the eye,” said Dr. Leo A. Kim, a co-author of the study. “We were surprised we could use this inside the eye with minimal inflammation. We hope these findings can lead to new options for treating PVR and similar conditions.”
PVR is scar tissue that can develop inside the eye after trauma, leading to retinal detachment and possible blindness. In their study, researchers used various models to demonstrate that mRNA-based treatments can be safely applied to the eye.
Initially, the researchers planned to target RUNX1, a protein linked to PVR. However, they found a novel strategy that involves creating a molecule to inhibit RUNX1’s function. This dominant-negative inhibitor keeps RUNX1 in the cytoplasm of cells, preventing it from forming scar tissue.
The team tested an mRNA called RUNX1-Trap. In lab cultures, animal models, and human tissues, this mRNA stopped scar tissue and abnormal blood vessel growth.
The researchers consider this work a preliminary finding, showing that mRNA may treat PVR and other eye diseases. However, they note the study’s limitations: it only tested the therapy in cellular and animal models, not in humans, and the mRNA does not last long in cells, leaving questions about how long treatment effects will last or how often a patient might need treatment.
Dr. Arboleda-Velasquez believes targeting RUNX1 could lead to new therapies for vision-threatening conditions. He also suggests that using mRNA to create dominant-negative molecules may result in treatments for various other medical conditions.
William P. Miller, a co-first author of the study, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the research and its implications beyond ophthalmology. This study opens the door to innovative applications of mRNA technology in medicine.