This document discusses advancements in gene therapy techniques for treating blindness. It describes the first successful gene therapy treatment for blindness in the UK in 2007. The patient, Robert Johnson, was born blind due to a mutation in the RPE65 gene. Surgeons injected a replacement gene into his retina using an incredibly precise procedure. Initial results found Johnson could see outlines, though not clearly at night. The document outlines the science behind the treatment and genetic cause of the patient's blindness. It provides context on the cutting-edge nature of this gene therapy technique at the time and hopes it could eventually help more complex organs.
Bible Matrix 5_59_①_UK’s successful gene transfer to several congenital blinds
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Bible Matrix 5 : 42 Miracles of Jesus with
the Holy Spirit into Science and Technology
Dr. Won Yong Cha, English Education(BS), MBA, MISE(Ph.D.), Futurist or Futurologist
biblematrix@gmail.com
I am Dr. Won Yong Cha, the author of <Bible
Matrix 5: Science & Technology of Jesus
Christ with the Holy Spirit>, published from
Amazon, USA, via Nobook, 28 Jan 2020;
Korean version, Seoul, Korea, 20 Jan 2015.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0849VX88S/
http://www.yes24.com/Product/goods/15896362
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Bible Matrix 5 : 42 Miracles of Jesus with
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Part 2. 42 Miracles of Jesus with the Holy Spirit into Science and Technology
Chapter 7. Jesus healed many blind men and a deaf-mutism(deaf & dumb),
but how?
Verse 1. Current & future cutting-edge science and technology to repair blindness
1-3. ① UK’s successful gene transfer to several congenital blinds
1-3-1. Challenges of 2007, the progress of Gene transplant surgery
In May 2007, the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London tried the world's first gene
therapy for a man named Robert Johnson who was born with blind. Gene therapy
refers to surgery to transplant genes into the eye. Now Johnson, who had genes
inserted into one eye, could see outlines during the day, but little at night.
However, the success or failure of this transplant could only be known for a few
more months. If successful, scientists and doctors expect this gene therapy to
emerge as a breakthrough technology for treating a variety of visual impairments.
The transplant technology was developed in a lab and after clinical trials on
animals, then they tried to Johnson. Johnson was elected out of 12 young patients.
Johnson confessed that he had mixed feelings before surgery. He said, "It's very
difficult to say how I'm feeling. I keep ranging from extreme nervousness to a bit
of excitement.“1)
UK’s successful gene transfer to
several congenital blinds
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Bible Matrix 5 : 42 Miracles of Jesus with
the Holy Spirit into Science and Technology
Lead researcher, Professor Robin Ali has spent 15 years with colleagues for
developing the technique. He said, "I can't help feeling somewhat
apprehensive. We have all been waiting for a very long time.“ His colleague,
James Bainbridge, who carried out the surgery, said there was no guarantee
that it would be a success. However, he said, "It is very encouraging that we
can deliver genes to an extremely fragile site in the eye without
complications.“
LCA - Johnson’s blindness is due to the loss or incomplete function of a gene
called RPE652), which encodes the retinal pigment epithelium(èpəθí:liəm)(RPE, 망막
색 소 상 피 ) and produces a specific protein as 95-kDA. In other words, this
disease is called ‘inherited degeneration of the retina’ or LCA(Leber's
congenital amaurosis)3), which caused by a mutation in the RPE65 gene.
1) BBC - Gene therapy first for poor sight(01 May 2007), http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6609205.stm
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPE65
3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leber%27s_congenital_amaurosis
UK’s successful gene transfer to
several congenital blinds
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The RPE65 mutation gene disrupts or stops the function of photoreceptor cells
in the retinal pigment epithelium(èpəθí:liəm)(RPE) of the pigment layer which
exists between the retina and sclera behind the eye. These photoreceptor cells
sense lights and send electrical impulses or signals through the optic nerve to
the brain's thalamus(θǽləməs) or visual center. In Johnson's case, the
photoreceptor cells could not detect lights because they were mutated.
What was the level of gene transplant technology in 2007? – The surgery
required incredible precision. One slip and Johnson's retina would have been
torn, then the operation should have failed. However, Robert Maclaren, the
assistant surgeon, was pleased with how things went. He said, "We couldn't
have asked for a better result. In fact if I sat and drew what the perfect result
would have been on a piece of paper - the retina would have looked pretty
much as it would look now."
Professor Andrew George, an expert in molecular immunology(ìmjunάlədʒi) at
Imperial College London, said, "There is a hope that once gene therapy is
developed in the eye, scientists could move on to more complex organs."
UK’s successful gene transfer to
several congenital blinds
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Retinal gene therapy, used by researchers, is described as follows:
UK’s successful gene transfer to
several congenital blinds
(망막 유전자 치료)
(망막)
(렌즈, 수정체)
(시신경)
(광수용체 세포들)
(치료 영역인 색소층이 재생)
(바늘로 대체 유전자를 주입)
1) The needle is inserted through the eye and into the retina.
2) The replacement gene is injected between the two layers of cells which make up the retina. It is
a faulty gene in the pigment layer which is preventing the photoreceptor cells from detecting light.
3) Once treated, the cells in the pigment layer are restored and can support the photoreceptor
cells to detect light as normal.
4) The photoreceptor cells can now send nerve impulses to the optic nerve for transmitting to the
brain.