Key points from article :
Korean scientists at KAIST found that a protein called Prox1 blocks the natural repair of retinal neurons in mammals. By removing Prox1 in mice, they reactivated the retina’s ability to regenerate, something normally seen only in animals like zebrafish.
They noticed that Prox1 moves from retinal neurons to Müller glia cells and stops these support cells from turning into new retinal neurons. This same pattern was seen in the eye tissue of a human with retinal disease, but not in healthy eyes or in zebrafish.
To test this, the team used a virus to deliver an antibody that binds to Prox1 before it reaches Müller glia. This allowed the cells to reprogram themselves and start forming new photoreceptors and neurons in mouse eyes.
Though the regeneration in mice wasn’t as strong as in fish, it lasted over six months—marking the first long-lasting retinal repair in a mammal. The work was published in Nature Communications and is now being developed by Celliaz Inc.
Experts praised the work but said more tests in larger animals and human-like systems are needed. Organoids may help answer if Prox1 blocks regeneration in people the same way.
If proven safe and effective, this method could lead to new gene therapies for diseases like macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, which affect millions worldwide.