Mutation ofthe tyrosinase gene (TYR) causes oculocutaneous albinism,type 1 (OCA1), a condition characterized by reduced skin and eye melanin pigmentation and by vision loss. The retinal pigment epithelium influences postnatal visual development. Therefore, increasing ocular pigmentation in patients with OCA1 might enhance visual function. There are 2 forms of OCA1, OCA-1A and OCA-1B. Individuals with the former lack functional tyrosinase and therefore lack melanin, while individuals with the latter produce some melanin. We hypothesized that increasing plasma tyrosine concentrations using nitisinone, an FDA-approved inhibitor of tyrosine degradation, could stabilize tyrosinase and improve pigmentation in individuals with OCA1.
Original Source [2]
Technology Partners: MimirTech
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/feature-article/nitisinone-improves-eye-and-skin-pigmentation-defects-mouse-model-oculocutaneous
[2] https://www.jci.org/articles/view/59372
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/ighovie-f-onojafe
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/david-r-adams
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/dimitre-r-simeonov-et-al
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/journal/journal-clinical-investigation
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/skin-diseases
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/research
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/n-c-america
