Low Oxygen in the Eye May Lead to Protein Sorting Errors That Impair Vision

Newswise — Denver, Colo. – A new study finds that when cells in the eye do not have enough oxygen, they improperly sort proteins, an issue that has been implicated in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Alzheimer’s disease. The research is being presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Denver, Colo.

Scientists looked at the cells that form a barrier to separate the inside of the eye from the rest of the body. When these cells did not have enough oxygen, they kept proteins that should have been eliminated and discarded proteins that should have been kept. If proteins are not sorted correctly, the eye can develop diseases that impair vision.

Additional research will allow investigators to better understand how low oxygen levels can cause this sorting problem, and to ensure that vision is not lost when the eye loses access to its critical oxygen supply.

Abstract Title: Hypoxia alters the polarized movement, expression, and secretion of proteins in retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells by inhibiting retromer functionPresentation Start/End Time: Monday, May 4, 3:45 – 5:30pm Location: Exhibit HallAbstract Number: 2331 - B0265

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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include nearly 12,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders.

All abstracts accepted for presentation at the ARVO Annual Meeting represent previously unpublished data and conclusions. This research may be proprietary or may have been submitted for journal publication. Embargo policy: Journalists must seek approval from the presenter(s) before reporting data from paper or poster presentations. Press releases or stories on information presented at the ARVO Annual Meeting may not be released or published until the conclusion of the presentation.