- Study reveals new link between gut and eye in inherited blindness, highlighting the role of CRB1 gene mutations.
- Mutations in CRB1 gene compromise blood-retina barrier, allowing harmful gut bacteria to infiltrate the eye and potentially lead to blindness.
- Treating bacteria with antimicrobials prevents sight loss in mouse models, offering hope for future treatments in inherited eye diseases.
A groundbreaking study published in the journal Cell reveals a new link between the gut and the eyes, shedding light on the role of the CRB1 gene in inherited blindness. Researchers found that mutations in the CRB1 gene can compromise the blood-retina barrier, allowing harmful gut bacteria to infiltrate the eye and potentially lead to blindness.
The international study, focusing on the impact of the CRB1 gene, uncovered that in eyes affected by genetic mutations linked to blindness, gut bacteria were discovered within the damaged areas of the eye. The CRB1 gene, primarily expressed in the retina, plays a crucial role in building the blood-retina barrier, regulating the flow of substances into and out of the eye.
Using mouse models, researchers observed that mutations in the CRB1 gene weaken the integrity of both the retina and the lower gastrointestinal tract, allowing gut bacteria to breach barriers and reach the eye. However, the study also found that treating these bacteria with antimicrobials, such as antibiotics, could prevent sight loss in mice, suggesting a potential avenue for preventing deterioration in CRB1-associated inherited eye diseases.
