A recent study by scientists has attracted the attention of the public and the scientific community with new discoveries about the connection between the gut microbiota and vision loss. Research has shown that when the retinal barrier is damaged, bacteria from the gut can enter the internal structures of the eye and contribute to the development of diseases that lead to vision loss.
A group of researchers from China and Great Britain has made an important discovery that could change the understanding and treatment of some eye diseases. They found that in mice with a mutation in a particular gene known as Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1), bacteria from the gut enter damaged areas of the eye. This mutation is a known culprit in some inherited eye diseases that can lead to significant vision loss or even blindness, ScienceAlert writes.
The CRB1 mutation affects the retina, the most important part of the eye responsible for turning light into the image we see. Normally, our retina has a fine structure that allows it to capture light efficiently, but in mice with a mutation in this gene, this structure does not develop properly. This led the researchers to the idea of whether the presence of some bacteria in the eye contributes to the damage. During the study, they found that the protein produced by the CRB1 gene, which helps maintain protective barriers in both the gut and the eye, is not produced properly when the gene is mutated. This defect actually allows bacteria to leave the gut, travel through the bloodstream, and enter the eye, which can lead to vision loss.
In experiments, treating mice with antibiotics reduced retinal damage and prevented some vision loss, leading scientists to suggest that managing the bacteria could be a new way to treat such diseases. When the researchers corrected the CRB1 mutation in the gut, it didn't fix the problem of the broken barrier, but the manipulation did lead to less damage to the retina. This indicates that the presence of bacteria, and not just the problem of barrier disruption, is a key factor in the development of these diseases.
This study opens a new path for science to understand and potentially treat eye diseases associated with the CRB1 mutation. By discovering the invisible pathway of bacteria from the gut to the eye, scientists were able to suggest that treatment targeting these bacteria could even help prevent blindness in some cases. Although their research is early stage and mostly conducted on mice, its results hold promise for the millions of people who suffer from vision loss. Not only does it shed light on a new connection between the gut and eye health, but it also suggests that studying the role of gut bacteria could lead to innovative treatments for a range of diseases in the future.
