BREAKING NEWS: Scientists Discover Relation Between Oxidative Stress and Retina Diseases

Scientists at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University released this week that the same receptor that’s targeted for treating neurodegenerative diseases also appears to play a pivotal role in supporting the retina.

Sigma 1 Receptor and Oxidative Stress

Let’s break this down. The receptor these scientists are discussing is called sigma 1. Our eye retina is maintained by organisms called Müller cells, which are major support cells in the retina, helping stabilize its complex, multi-layer structure by eliminating debris while continuing the function and metabolism of its neurons and blood vessels.

For the retina to control damaging oxidative stress, the Müller cells must be accompanied by sigma 1 receptors. According to the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine, the millions of specialized neurons that transform light into images must have sigma 1 receptors to function properly and regulate oxidative stress.

If this support system begins to decline, the well-organized layers of retinal cells begin to disintegrate and vision is lost to diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma, said Dr. Sylvia Smith, retinal cell biologist and Chairwoman of the Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University.

Progressive Diseases: The Contributing Factor

Increased oxidative stress and ROS levels can gradually develop scar tissue that hinders our vision. Other health issues such as diabetes increase ROS levels, thus could be contributing to additional health issues.

This knowledge of how the sigma 1 receptor is critical in maintaining oxidative stress leads to the possibility of treating progressive and blinding retinal diseases. Furthermore, it also has implications for other major diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as neurodegenerative diseases where oxidative stress is a major contributing factor.

The scientists were most surprised when they removed sigma 1 receptor from Müller cells. When they eliminated this receptor, the cells significantly increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus indicating the receptor’s direct role in the oxidative stress response, Dr. Smith said. ROS are not good for our cells. The scientists originally thought they would have to introduce an oxidative stressor to increase ROS levels, but this finding shows how connected this receptor is with our cells.

How are ROS Molecules Produced?

ROS are molecules produced through normal body function such as breathing and cells using energy. The body needs a limited amount of ROS to carry out additional functions, such as cell signaling. Problems, from eye disease to cancer, result when the body’s natural system for eliminating excess ROS can’t keep up and ROS start to do harm, such as cell destruction.

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