The application of optogenetics in the treatment of retinal degeneration disease
10.3760/cma.j.issn.1005-1015.2016.03.030
- VernacularTitle:光遗传学技术及其在视网膜变性性疾病治疗中的应用
- Author:
Yumeng SHEN
;
Yiqiao XING
;
Yin SHEN
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Retinal degeneration/therapy;
Opsins;
Genetic techniques;
Review
- From:
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases
2016;32(3):338-342
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Optogenetics is a novel technique which combines optics with genetics.Using genetic means,a selected opsin protein is ectopically expressed in target neurons,which are then stimulated by light to moderate the neuronal circuit,as a consequence to regulate the animal's behaviors.Retinal degeneration like retinitis pigmentosa and aged macular degeneration causes visual impairment and eventual blindness.Optogenetics techniques have opened the door to creating artificial photoreceptors in the remaining retinal circuits of retinal degeneration retinas via gene therapy.However,there are still limitations in optogenetics technique,for example,potential risk in virus infection,the choice of target cells and the low visual resolution of the experiment animal.It has been reported that vision was successfully restored to a certain extent in animal model using optogenetics technique.With higher photosensitivity of opsin protein,longer activation kinetics and higher transfection efficiency of virus vector,optogenetics techniques' application in ophthalmology will be improved.
