Goji Berry Compound Helps Protect Eye Cells from Degeneration

Jim Crocker
6th August, 2024

Goji Berry Compound Helps Protect Eye Cells from Degeneration

LbGP treatment, whether administered as pretreatment or posttreatment (day 1 or day 5), significantly preserved retinal ganglion cell densities in the central and peripheral retina following ET-1-induced degeneration compared to vehicle controls (a–f), demonstrating that Lycium barbarum glycopeptide provides neuroprotection even when treatment is delayed after the onset of injury.

Image adapted from: Lakshmanan et al. / CC BY (Source)

Key Findings

  • The study by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University explored the effects of Lycium Barbarum glycoproteins (LbGP) on retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in a mouse model of vascular-related glaucoma
  • LbGP treatments, whether given before or after endothelin-1 (ET-1) exposure, significantly preserved retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and RGC densities
  • The findings suggest LbGP can restore retinal blood flow and function, offering a potential new treatment for glaucoma, especially normal tension glaucoma (NTG)
Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, is often linked to increased intraocular pressure (IOP). However, normal tension glaucoma (NTG) presents a unique challenge as it progresses without elevated IOP, implicating other factors such as vascular dysregulation in its pathogenesis[2]. Recent research by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Lycium Barbarum glycoproteins (LbGP) in protecting retinal ganglion cells (RGC) from endothelin-1 (ET-1) induced degeneration, a model for vascular-related glaucoma[1]. The study aimed to explore whether LbGP could mitigate the effects of ET-1, known to impair ocular blood flow and contribute to RGC damage. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of early detection and intervention in glaucoma, as damage often precedes detectable visual field loss[3]. Additionally, treatments like latanoprost have shown efficacy in preserving vision by lowering IOP, but alternative treatments are needed for NTG, where IOP is not a primary factor[4]. In this study, adult C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: vehicle control, LbGP pretreatment, LbGP posttreatment (day 1), and LbGP posttreatment (day 5). The mice received oral LbGP or PBS (control) daily, with treatments starting either one week before or one or five days after ET-1 injection. The effects on retinal structure and function were assessed using optical coherence tomography (OCT), doppler OCT, and electroretinogram measurements at baseline, and on days 10 and 28 post-injection. RGC survival was evaluated through RBPMS immunostaining on retinal wholemounts. The results showed that ET-1 injections in the vehicle control group led to temporary reductions in arterial flow and retinal function, culminating in significant retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning and RGC loss by day 28. In contrast, all LbGP-treated groups exhibited better restoration of retinal blood flow and function. Notably, LbGP treatments, whether administered before or after ET-1 exposure, significantly preserved RNFL thickness and RGC densities compared to controls. The protective effects were consistent across all LbGP treatment schedules. This study's findings suggest that LbGP has substantial neuroprotective effects against ET-1 induced RGC degeneration. The ability of LbGP to promote retinal blood flow restoration and preserve retinal structure and function highlights its potential as a complementary treatment for glaucoma management, particularly in cases where vascular dysregulation plays a crucial role. This aligns with earlier findings on the importance of preserving retinal ganglion cells and suggests new avenues for therapeutic intervention[2][3]. In conclusion, the research conducted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University demonstrates the promising potential of Lycium Barbarum glycoproteins in mitigating retinal damage in glaucoma through mechanisms independent of IOP reduction. This study opens up new possibilities for managing glaucoma, especially NTG, by addressing vascular dysregulation and enhancing retinal health.

MedicineHealthBiochem

References

Main Study

1) Lycium barbarum glycopeptide promotes neuroprotection in ET-1 mediated retinal ganglion cell degeneration.

Published 5th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05526-8

Related Studies

2) Role of ocular blood flow in normal tension glaucoma.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aopr.2022.100036

3) Ganglion cell death in glaucoma: pathology recapitulates ontogeny.

Journal: Australian and New Zealand journal of ophthalmology, Issue: Vol 23, Issue 2, May 1995

4) Latanoprost for open-angle glaucoma (UKGTS): a randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial.

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62111-5


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