Older HIV drugs treat blindness

HIV medicines previous generation can be effective in treating people who have lost view. This conclusion was American scientists.

Macular degeneration

In the journal Science published a study showing that drugs from the group of nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) may be effective in treating blindness, as well as some other disorders. This group of drugs used for the treatment of previously patients with HIV infection, but then they were replaced by drugs included of combination antiretroviral therapy.

American scientist Jerome Horwitz He opened a chemical known as AZT, in 1964. He believed that his can be used to treat cancer, but clinical studies have not confirmed this theory. As a result of the medication you forget for a couple of decades. However, 1980 again began to be widely used as a means of HIV / AIDS. Since then, it has helped save millions of lives.

Currently, AZT and incoming its components received third birth as a treatment age-related macular degeneration of the retina (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in the elderly. In this disease supporting retina cells are destroyed, which causes blindness. Yet In 2011, scientists discovered that one of the causes of death of these cells is the accumulation of toxic molecules, extracted from "junk" DNA.

These "junk" DNA, known as Alu, born at the time of the disappearance of dinosaurs from our planet. Since Alu reproduce in our bodies over a million copies, so that Now they account for 11% of the mass of human DNA.

AZT and other drugs from the NRTI blocks lifecycle Alu. Achieving this effect in HIV-infected patients, of course, is a therapeutic effect. Scientists decided NRTI used to block Alu-repeats in the eyes of mice with Symptoms of AMD. They found that the NRTI prevents cell death in mice.

Moreover, these drugs have proven effective even without successful blocking Alu-repeats. Thus, from the category NRTI drugs may be used to treat dry macular degeneration . Fortunately, most of the negative side effects NRTI can now be avoided by using a specific dosage and selection new components with increased safety. (READ MORE)

Industry News

Go back to the main page