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In a new study from Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson), scientists have discovered that a specific protein has the potential to be used to treat some patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma, which is a group of diseases that affect nearly 70 million people worldwide. Glaucoma is characterized by progressive damage to the optic nerve which ultimately leads to blindness. In this new study, led by Dr. Sunil Parapuram, researchers examined the role of a protein called “phosphatase and tensin homolog” (PTEN) in the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular meshwork is a porous tissue in the eye through which the clear fluid that fills the eye drains out.

In some primary open-angle glaucoma patients, the structure of the trabecular meshwork is damaged by fibrosis. Fibrosis is a thickening or scarring of tissue which is caused by an excess amount of matrix molecules such as collagen. Fibrosis of the trabecular meshwork prevents the fluid in the eye from draining out normally, which leads to increased pressure in the eye and damage to the optic nerve.

Dr. Parapuram’s team found that the inactivation of the protein PTEN can cause too many matrix molecules to be deposited in the trabecular meshwork, leading to fibrosis. On the other hand, when PTEN activity was increased, it reduced the amount of matrix molecules being deposited in the trabecular meshwork. These results indicate that drugs that can activate PTEN have high potential to be used as a treatment for open-angle glaucoma.

“There’s an immediate need for a new generation of therapeutic drugs for more effective treatment of glaucoma,” says Dr. Parapuram, a Lawson scientist at St. Joseph’s Health Care London and an assistant professor in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. “While further research is needed, drugs that activate PTEN could be the answer.”

Dr. Parapuram’s team will continue to study the function of PTEN in the trabecular meshwork in more detail and test the role of drugs that activate the protein as a potential treatment for primary open angle glaucoma.

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Dr. Michael Motolko (left), Chair/Chief, Department of Ophthalmology, and Dr. Sunil Parapuram (right).

“This study highlights the expansion of our department’s research activities into basic science application and its findings are relevant to many other fibrotic diseases,” says Dr. Michael Motolko, Chair/Chief, Department of Ophthalmology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry,Western University, London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London.

The study, “TGF-β induces phosphorylation of phosphatase and tensin homolog: implications for fibrosis of the trabecular meshwork tissue in glaucoma,” is published in Nature’s Scientific Reports.

From crafting a global definition of probiotics to developing novel therapies used by millions, Dr. Gregor Reid has significantly advanced our knowledge of how beneficial microbes, especially bacteria, contribute to health. Recognizing his role as a world leader in probiotics research, Dr. Reid has now been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Canada.

The Royal Society of Canada was established in 1883 as Canada’s National Academy of distinguished scholars, artists and scientists. With over 2,000 fellows, the primary objective of the Society is to promote learning and research through its three Academies – the Academy of Arts and Humanities, the Academy of Social Sciences and the Academy of Science. Dr. Reid has been elected by his peers to the Life Sciences division of the Academy of Science.

“Being elected to the Royal Society of Canada is a huge honour and a recognition that the concepts of probiotics and beneficial microbes, and the work we are doing, are appreciated by distinguished Canadians,” said Dr. Reid, Endowed Chair in Human Microbiome and Probiotics at Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson) and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and Surgery at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, provide health benefits to their host. Dr. Reid’s research in probiotics has made a global impact. He has held 28 patents, published 473 peer-reviewed papers and given over 560 talks in 54 countries.

In addition to his current role as Director of the Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotics Research, located at Lawson in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dr. Reid has previously acted as President for the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics. In 2001 and 2002, he  chaired a United Nations/World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Panel and Working Group on Probiotics.

Dr. Reid is especially interested in how his research can benefit those in need. He helped to establish Western Heads East, a Western University program that has established community kitchens in Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda, and through partnerships has expanded this in Uganda to reach over 40,000 people each day.  The community kitchens are owned and operated mostly by local women and youth where they produce a probiotic yogurt that helps counter malnutrition, side effects of infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS and enhances immunity. The yogurt was developed by Dr. Reid and Dr. Sharareh Hekmat of Western's Brescia University College.

“My research was not mainstream until very recently, so being inducted to the Society signifies that they recognize what I have achieved first and foremost,” said Dr. Reid, “but I hope my appointment helps to further bring the concepts of beneficial microbes to the forefront of research.”

An induction ceremony will take place in Kingston, Ontario on November 17 and 18, 2016. To learn more about Dr. Reid’s research, please visit his Scientist Profile and Google Scholar. 

Dr. Miho Iijima, Associate Professor at John Hopkins School of Medicine, visited St. Joseph’s Hospital on Friday, November 17 to deliver a talk on the role of a protein called “phosphatase and tensin homolog” (PTEN) in cancer.

The talk was organized by the Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Sunil Parapuram, scientist at Lawson who invited Dr. Iijima, has been collaborating with her to study the role of PTEN in fibrosis.

Dr. Iijima’s talk focused specifically on controlling PTEN localization and function in cancer. Mutations and deletions in the gene encoding PTEN are associated with many cancers and autism. Dr. Iijima’s laboratory recently discovered a new class of cancer and autism-associated PTEN mutations that specifically interfere with membrane association. During her talk, Dr. Iijima discussed how PTEN is recruited to the plasma membrane and how enhancing the membrane recruitment of PTEN suppresses oncogenic signaling in cancer.

"Dr. Miho Iijima gave a very informative talk about the meticulous work her laboratory is doing about controlling the location and function of PTEN,” said Dr. Parapuram. “Her visit also provided an opportunity to reinvigorate the collaboration between our labs on the role of PTEN in fibrosis.”

To learn more about Dr. Iijima’s research, please visit the John Hopkins School of Medicine’s website.