Scientists have developed a new tool to determine the age of eye cells without taking regenerated tissue. This could make treatment of eye diseases more individualized and better targeted.
The team, led by researchers at Stanford University, adapted a technique used to analyze eye fluid. Approximately 6,000 proteins detected in body fluids could be traced to eye cells, and 26 of them were collectively associated with eye aging.
This was done through an artificial intelligence system trained on the eye fluids of 46 healthy patients, which allowed them to cross-reference their ages. In further testing, the AI was able to predict a person’s age based on their eye fluids (whether it was several years later or later).
“The first step in developing any kind of therapy is understanding the molecules.” To tell Vinit Mahajan, an ophthalmologist at Stanford University.
The researchers who established the eye aging clock looked at how certain eye diseases accelerate cellular aging. Further analysis was performed on the eye fluids of her 62 patients with different types of eye diseases.
Certain proteins showed higher levels of aging: early stage patients diabetic retinopathy For example, it was predicted that damage to retinal cells due to reduced blood supply could make patients look 12 years older compared to healthy patients based on tests.For patients uveitis (inflammation in the eye) That “jump” took nearly 30 years.
Using an approach called TEMPO, which means “tracing the expression of multiple protein origins,” the team traced the affected proteins to the RNA (ribonucleic acid) that created them, allowing them to determine the cause of these diseases. We have identified problematic cells.
It turns out that the cells responsible are different for each disease and may not be the most obvious targets for conventional treatments, potentially giving scientists new targets for treating these types of problems.
“At the molecular level, patients with the same disease exhibit different symptoms.” To tell Mahajan. “With molecular fingerprints like the one we have developed, we can choose the most effective drug for each patient.”
These new techniques overcome long-standing problems in studying diseases in other areas such as the eye and brain. Taking tissue samples from these specific parts of the body can cause significant damage because lost cells are difficult to regenerate. .
Additionally, the researchers believe that the innovation they demonstrated here could also work in other types of body fluids, providing experts with valuable biomarkers to treat and, in some cases, prevent the onset of disease. ing.
“It’s like we’re holding a living cell in our hands and examining it with a magnifying glass.” To tell Mahajan.
“We are dialing in and getting to know our patients intimately at the molecular level, which enables precision health management and more informed clinical trials.”
This study cell.
