Research lead
Researchers at Southampton University, UK, have identified a new genetic association with age-related macular degeneration that they believe will help to predict those at risk and provide a target for developing new drugs to treat the condition, which is the most common cause of blindness in developed countries.
The team found an association with the SERPING1 gene, which is involved in production of proteins in the complement system, a branch of the immune system that helps clear foreign material and infections in the eye.
Working with colleagues from Iowa University, they found evidence of proteins expressed by SERPING1 in the retina and the choroid layer next to the retina, the two areas affected by age-related macular degeneration. The findings suggest that the complement system is malfunctioning, attacking the retina and choroid layer.
Andrew Lotery, professor of ophthalmology said, “Our study also shows that a particular variant of the gene SERPING1, carried by just under a quarter of the population, appears to offer protection against the disease.”
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