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New Findings Show Eye Injections Can Combat Brain Infections
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers at Yale University have unveiled the eyes’ role not just as windows to the soul but as immunological gateways to the brain, providing protection against pathogens and tumors. Their findings, published in the journal Nature on Feb. 28, demonstrate that vaccines injected into the eyes of mice can effectively disable the herpes virus, a leading cause of brain encephalitis, by activating an immune response through lymphatic vessels along the optic nerve.
Led by Eric Song, an associate research scientist at Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Immunobiology, the study reveals a previously unrecognized connection between the eyes and the brain’s immune system. “There is a shared immune response between the brain and the eye,” stated Song, highlighting the potential for leveraging the eyes as a route for drug therapies targeting neurological diseases.
Delving into the immunological interactions between the brain and eyes, the research team uncovered two distinct lymphatic systems in the eyes, regulating immune responses in both the front and rear of the eye. Following vaccination of mice with inactivated herpes virus, the researchers observed that lymphatic vessels in the optic nerve sheath at the rear of the eye provided protection not only against active herpes infections but also against bacteria and brain tumors.
Building upon these findings, Song’s team is currently testing newly developed drugs delivered through eye injections to combat conditions such as macular edema and glaucoma. Macular edema, characterized by leaky blood vessels in the retina, is prevalent in individuals with diabetes, while glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
“These results reveal a shared lymphatic circuit capable of mounting a unified immune response between the posterior eye and the brain, highlighting an understudied immunological feature of the eyes,” the authors wrote.
Co-lead authors of the study include Xiangyun Yin, an associate researcher in Yale’s Department of Immunobiology; Sophia Zhang, an undergraduate student at Yale College; and Ju Hyun Lee, a doctoral student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
The study’s findings not only deepen our understanding of the intricate relationship between the eyes and the brain but also pave the way for innovative therapeutic strategies in ocular and central nervous system diseases.
