Researchers Discover Receptor's Role In Glaucoma And Other Eye Diseases

Researchers Discover Receptor's Role In Glaucoma And Other Eye Diseases

April 3, 2008

Adapted from Texas A&M Health Science Center Institute of Biosciences and Technology at Houston

Researchers at the Texas A&M Health Science Center Institute of Biosciences and Technology at Houston have uncovered a receptor's role in the development of certain eye diseases, including glaucoma, and its regulation could help in development of corresponding treatments.

The study is currently available online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and will be in an upcoming issue of the journal.

In their study, Liu Mingyao Liu, Ph.D., found that a receptor, called Gpr4,8 plays an important role in the development of the front portion of the eye. Abnormal development may result in glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness that affects an estimated 70 million people worldwide.

Further research may lead to new therapeutic drugs for glaucoma that target this receptor.

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