Researchers have discovered that genetic mutations underlying two inherited eye disorders arise in different components of a single intracellular signaling pathway that is responsible for development of blood vessels in the eye. Understanding more about how this pathway functions could provide useful information for the development of drugs to treat the two diseases. That information might also aid in understanding retinal blood vessel disorders associated with diabetes, macular degeneration, and premature infants. Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator Jeremy Nathans at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine led the research team, which published its findings in the March 19, 2004, issue of the journal Cell. Co-lead authors of the article were HHMI associate Qiang Xu and HHMI research specialist Yanshu Wang. Other authors are from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the University of Utah, and the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.
