Surreal illustration of an eye transforming into a landscape, symbolizing macular degeneration research.

Vision Breakthrough: Can We Slow Macular Degeneration?

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research highlights a potential way to reduce vision loss by targeting a specific enzyme. Could this be the key to slowing AMD?"

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major concern, impacting central vision for millions worldwide. Characterized by the deterioration of the macula, the central part of the retina, AMD makes everyday tasks like reading and driving increasingly difficult. While there are treatments to manage the condition, finding ways to slow or prevent its progression remains a top priority for researchers.

A new study offers a promising lead, focusing on choroidal neovascularization (CNV), a key process in wet AMD. CNV involves the growth of new, leaky blood vessels under the retina, leading to swelling and vision loss. Researchers have been working hard to understand what triggers CNV and how to stop it.

This article unpacks the findings of a recent scientific paper that explores the role of serine racemase, an enzyme, in the development of CNV. We will explore how inhibiting this enzyme could potentially reduce the severity of AMD and preserve vision.

Serine Racemase: A New Target for Vision Protection?

Surreal illustration of an eye transforming into a landscape, symbolizing macular degeneration research.

The recent study shines a spotlight on serine racemase (SR), an enzyme present in the retina. SR is responsible for producing D-serine, which acts as a co-agonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). When this receptor is activated, it boosts the production of nitric oxide (NO), a molecule known to promote both retinal and choroidal neovascularization. This discovery suggests that SR could play a vital role in CNV.

To investigate this connection, researchers examined mice with laser-induced CNV. The findings revealed that inactivating the SR-coding gene (Srrnull) significantly reduced CNV volume, decreased neovascular density, and limited the invasion of macrophages—immune cells that contribute to inflammation and blood vessel growth.

Reduced CNV volume
Decreased neovascular density
Limited macrophage invasion

Further experiments explored the impact of SR inactivation on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). The results indicated that choroid/RPE homogenates from laser-injured Srrnull mice had less iNOS and decreased phospho-VEGFR2 compared to wild-type mice. In vitro studies further confirmed these findings, showing that inflammation-primed wild-type RPEs expressed more iNOS and produced more NO and VEGF than inflammation-primed Srrnull RPEs. When co-cultured with inflammation-primed Srrnull RPE, fewer choroidal endothelial cells migrated, suggesting that SR deficiency reduces RPE response to laser-induced inflammatory stimuli.

Hope for the Future

These findings offer hope for new treatments to slow down or prevent vision loss from AMD. By targeting serine racemase, researchers may be able to reduce the harmful effects of CNV and preserve eyesight. Further research is needed to translate these discoveries into effective therapies, but this study marks a significant step forward in the fight against AMD.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1111/jnc.14214, Alternate LINK

Title: Serine Racemase Deficiency Attenuates Choroidal Neovascularization And Reduces Nitric Oxide And Vegf Levels By Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Subject: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Journal: Journal of Neurochemistry

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Haiyan Jiang, Mengjuan Wu, Yimei Liu, Liping Song, Shifeng Li, Xianwei Wang, Yun-Feng Zhang, Junxu Fang, Shengzhou Wu

Published: 2017-10-13

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that affects the macula, the central part of the retina. This deterioration leads to a loss of central vision, making it difficult to perform tasks like reading and driving. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss for older adults.

Can you explain what choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is and why it is important?

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels under the retina. These vessels are often leaky, causing swelling, bleeding, and ultimately, vision loss. CNV is a significant factor in wet AMD, a more severe form of the disease, where the rapid growth of these blood vessels accelerates vision decline. Understanding and controlling CNV is critical in managing AMD.

What is the role of serine racemase in the context of vision loss?

Serine racemase is an enzyme that produces D-serine, which then activates the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). When NMDAR is activated, it increases the production of nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide promotes both retinal and choroidal neovascularization. Therefore, serine racemase plays a role in the development of CNV and, consequently, in the progression of AMD.

What happens when serine racemase is inactivated in the context of AMD?

Inactivating the serine racemase-coding gene (Srrnull) in studies led to several positive outcomes. These included a reduction in CNV volume, decreased neovascular density, and limited invasion of macrophages. Furthermore, there was less inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and decreased phospho-VEGFR2. These results suggest that reducing serine racemase activity could mitigate the development and severity of CNV, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for AMD.

How could targeting serine racemase lead to new treatments for AMD?

Targeting serine racemase offers a new avenue for potential treatments for AMD by reducing the harmful effects of CNV. This approach could help preserve eyesight by slowing down or preventing the progression of vision loss. While further research is necessary to develop effective therapies, the initial findings indicate that inhibiting serine racemase could have a significant impact on managing AMD.