When researchers at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine recently restored vision in adult dogs using retinal gene therapy, they expected to see functional improvements. What surprised them was what happened to the physical structure of the eye: it actually rewired itself.
The study, led by assistant professor and former resident Billie Beckwith-Cohen alongside endowed professor Simon Petersen-Jones challenges long-held assumptions about the ability of mature mammalian nerve cells to repair themselves.
The team investigated CaBP4 gene therapy, a treatment for a rare inherited condition that disrupts calcium signaling between light-sensing cells and the brain. They found that the therapy did far more than simply halt disease progression. According to the study, the single-dose treatment prompted adult retinas to rebuild damaged connections, thicken and recover lost visual function.