Diabetes can affect the retina's nerve cells and cause inflammation before evident lesions appear. A study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science explores the therapeutic possibilities of MiS1, a peptide designed to mimic the action of SOCS1, a protein that controls inflammatory signals.
For seven weeks, researchers administered MiS1 to mice with type 2 diabetes. In the treated mice, less retinal thinning, fewer retinal ganglion neurons, and changes in microglia (nerve cells that respond to damage) were observed. In contrast, untreated diabetic mice showed a neurodegenerative process.
A group of mice treated with baricitinib, an anti-inflammatory medication, also showed protective effects, with more ganglion neurons than untreated mice, although this difference was only statistically significant in the baricitinib group.
The researchers highlight the interest in targeting disease processes not directly addressed by current treatments, such as controlling inflammation to preserve retinal neurons and visual function. However, they caution that the results are preliminary, obtained in mice, and further research is needed to confirm efficacy and safety in humans.
