The potential for microRNA-based therapeutics in retinal disorders

摘要

Mammalian vision is entirely dependent on the unique methods our visual system has developed to focus light onto the retina. These photons of light are processed by the retina into a language that our brain’s visual cortex can understand, and are subsequently portrayed as the images we see. The retina plays an important role in this as the neurological interconnection point sensing environmental changes and feeding that visual input into the central nervous system. Therefore, retinal degenerations or disorders often result in major visual disruptions causing significant alterations to the affected individual’s lifestyle and a substantial increase in healthcare-related costs. Coupled with the inability of current medical technologies to ameliorate many retinal disorders, it is crucial that research into effective treatments for a variety of retinal maladies be conducted for both preventative and therapeutic measures. With our steadily increasing understanding of the pathophysiology of retinal disorders, we are beginning to gain more of an understanding into a particular facet underpinning many of them: the complex interplay between retinal pathology and gene regulation.