World-first research in Australia is looking at the way genes behave abnormally in different types of cataracts, which might help find more targeted therapies or stop cataracts altogether.<\/p>\n
In the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) study<\/a>, researchers looked at the genes of people with four different types of cataracts: age-related cataracts, uveitic cataracts (from eye inflammation)<\/a>, steroid-induced cataracts, and post-vitrectomy cataracts.<\/p>\n They took samples of lens cells from 89 patients undergoing routine cataract surgery in Melbourne hospitals, transferring those to the\u00a0Australian Genome Research Facility<\/a>\u00a0for sequencing.<\/p>\n The research was published in the journal\u00a0Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dr Carrie Fei, who led the research with Dr Michael Dong, said it was the first project that directly compared gene activity across the four types of cataracts.<\/p>\n \u201cHuman cataracts have been very difficult to reliably study as we do not have a reliable animal model,\u201d Dr Fei said.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing able to look directly at the human lens and extract genes is relatively new.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the first study that we know of that has really done it in these types of secondary cataract.\u201d<\/p>\n In cases of cataracts caused by inflammation, those samples showed heightened activity from genes associated with inflammation and cell death, while different genes were more active in stress and inflammation pathways.<\/p>\n The team also saw differences in steroid-induced cataract samples and those that developed after vitrectomy.<\/p>\n Dr Fei said the findings provided some valuable leads.<\/p>\n \u201cThis project has created a significant pool of data for other researchers to build upon,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstanding the different pathways that lead to cataract formation could one day help in developing targeted treatments or even stopping them before they form.\u201d<\/p>\n More reading<\/strong><\/p>\n An eye scan for various diseases? CERA is looking into it<\/a><\/p>\n Cylite takes ground-breaking tech a step further<\/a><\/p>\n