EGFR Signaling Modulation for Myopia Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to effectively identify and manage mediators of signal transduction between horizontal cells/amacrine cells and the retinal pigment epithelium/Bruch's membrane complex, which are crucial for controlling eye growth and preventing myopia and hyperopia.
Innovation Solution
Development of agents that can either decrease or increase epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling or amphiregulin signaling, such as antibodies, antibody fragments, or siRNA, to modulate eye growth by targeting EGFR or amphiregulin directly or indirectly, thereby treating myopia or hyperopia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current methods are used to manage mediators of signal transduction, then the complexity of the system is reduced, but the effectiveness of identifying and managing mediators is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses antibodies and siRNA as intermediary agents to modulate EGFR signaling. These intermediaries specifically target and regulate the signal transduction pathways between horizontal cells/amacrine cells and the retinal pigment epithelium/Bruch's membrane complex, enabling effective mediator management without directly complicating the underlying biological system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct manipulation of complex signal transduction mechanisms with molecular agents (antibodies and siRNA) that act through specific biochemical interactions. This substitution allows for precise control of EGFR signaling pathways without requiring direct intervention in the complex cellular communication processes.
2Reliability
If agents are used to modulate EGFR signaling to treat myopia and hyperopia, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of the treatment approach increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the treatment approach by developing separate agents for different conditions: agents that decrease EGFR signaling for myopia treatment, and agents that increase EGFR signaling for hyperopia treatment. This segmentation allows for targeted therapy while maintaining a unified underlying mechanism based on EGFR modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modulates the level of EGFR signaling as a key parameter to treat different refractive errors. By changing the signaling level (decreasing for myopia, increasing for hyperopia), the patent achieves therapeutic effects through a single controllable parameter rather than requiring completely different treatment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to agents for use in the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of myopia in a subject, wherein said agents are capable of decreasing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling and/or signaling of another receptor susceptible for amphiregulin in a subject in a direct or indirect manner. The present invention further relates to agents for use in the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of hyperopia in a subject, wherein said agents are capable of increasing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling and/or signaling of another receptor susceptible for amphiregulin in a subject. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis of myopia or hyperopia in a subject, comprising the steps of (a) providing a biological sample from the subject; (b) determining the amphiregulin level in said sample; (c) comparing the level determined in step (b) to the amphiregulin levels found in emmetropic subjects or subjects going to be emmetropic; and (d) determining that the subject has myopia or is predisposed for the development of myopia in case the level determined in step (b) is higher than the amphiregulin levels found in emmetropic subjects or subjects going to be emmetropic; and determining that the subject has hyperopia or is predisposed for the development of hyperopia in case the level determined in step (b) is lower than the amphiregulin levels found in emmetropic subjects or subjects going to be emmetropic. Finally, the present invention relates to a method for identifying agents which associate with amphiregulin or fragments or variants thereof.