Loss of sight in some inherited eye diseases may be caused by gut bacteria and could potentially be treated using antimicrobials, according to a study on mice.
The findings from international study published in the journal Cell discovered that in eyes with sight loss caused by a particular genetic mutation, gut bacteria was found in damaged areas of the eye. The findings suggest that the genetic mutation could reduce the body’s defences, causing these harmful bacteria to reach the eye and cause blindness.
The human gut has trillions of bacteria and many of them play an important role in healthy digestion. At the same time, they can also be potentially harmful. The researchers were looking at the impact of the Crumbs homolog or CRB1 gene, which expresses in the eye’s retina and is essential for the blood-retina barrier that regulates what goes into and out of the eye.
CRB1 is also associated with inherited eye diseases, most commonly either Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) or retinitis pigmentosa (RP). This gene is the cause of 10 per cent of LCA cases and 7 per cent of RP cases worldwide.
They used mouse models to discover that CRB1 plays an important role in controlling the integrity of the lower gastrointestinal tract. Over there, it fights pathogens and harmful bacteria by regulating what passes between the gut and the rest of the body.
When the gene has a particular mutation, its effect can be reduced and these barriers between the retina and the gut can be compromised, allowing bacteria in the gut to move through the body and into the eye. This can cause lesions in the retina that can lead to sight loss. Interestingly, treating these bacteria with antibiotics helped prevent sight loss in mice. But it did not undo the damage to the cell barriers in the eye.
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First uploaded on: 27-02-2024 at 17:41 IST
Rohit Malhotra is a medical expert and health journalist who offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being. His articles aim to help readers lead healthier lives.
