Dr Kathryn Bollinger

US researchers have found that activating a receptor known to protect cells from stress could be key to the survival of neurons impacted by glaucoma.

Dr Kathryn Bollinger, an ophthalmologist at Medical College of Georgia, said these latest findings together with previous studies indicate the sigma 1 receptor found on astrocytes in the brain enabled cells to secrete supportive factors for neurons, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The team’s in vitro research demonstrated that retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are better protected simply by sharing a medium with astrocytes whose sigma 1 receptors are intact. Thus drugs that activate sigma 1 receptors, such as the pain reliever pentazocine (Talwin), could mitigate glaucoma damage, said Dr Bollinger.

Investigators noted that in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis, inhibiting STAT3 activation in astrocytes provides neuroprotection. Further study is needed, however, to establish how the sigma 1 receptor affects STAT3 levels and how each impact RGC survival, they said.