Macrophage Extracellular Vesicles: Therapeutic Strategies for Corneal Fibrosis in Rare Diseases.
WHY IT MATTERS
For patients with epidermolysis bullosa, KID syndrome, or aniridia experiencing corneal scarring, this research offers a potential new treatment strategy that could prevent blindness without the side effects of current therapies.
Scientists are studying a new way to treat corneal scarring (clouding of the eye that causes blindness) using tiny particles called extracellular vesicles that come from immune cells called macrophages. This approach is being tested for rare genetic eye diseases like epidermolysis bullosa, KID syndrome, and aniridia, where the cornea becomes scarred due to chronic inflammation and genetic mutations. Current treatments don't work well and have significant side effects, so this new method could offer patients a better option.
Macrophage Extracellular Vesicles: Therapeutic Strategies for Corneal Fibrosis in Rare Diseases. Abstract: Corneal scarring (fibrosis) is a blinding condition affecting millions of sufferers worldwide. It is not only in common ocular injuries but also in genetically inherited rare diseases such as epidermolysis bullosa (EB), keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome and aniridia. In rare diseases like EB or KID syndrome, corneal fibrosis arises from chronic inflammation, structural instability and neuro-immune dysfunction driven by genetic mutations. Current therapies are not effective in addressing the needs of affected individuals due to limited efficacy nor the considerable side effects of treatment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from various cell types such as mesenchymal stem cells not only possess high biocompatibility but have shown promising results in limiting corneal fibrosis. Rathe Authors: Li et al. Journal: Biomolecules MeSH: Humans, Extracellular Vesicles, Fibrosis, Macrophages, Animals, Rare Diseases, Cornea, Corneal Diseases