Optimal control in the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa

Bull Math Biol. 2014 Feb;76(2):292-313. doi: 10.1007/s11538-013-9919-1. Epub 2013 Nov 21.

Abstract

Numerous therapies have been implemented in an effort to minimize the debilitating effects of the degenerative eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), yet none have provided satisfactory long-term solution. To date there is no treatment that can halt the degeneration of photoreceptors. The recent discovery of the RdCVF protein has provided researchers with a potential therapy that could slow the secondary wave of cone death. In this work, we build on an existing mathematical model of photoreceptor interactions in the presence of RP and incorporate various treatment regiments via RdCVF. Our results show that an optimal control exists for the administration of RdCVF. In addition, our numerical solutions show the experimentally observed rescue effect that the RdCVF has on the cones.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Cell Death / physiology
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Mathematical Concepts
  • Models, Biological*
  • Mutation
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / drug effects
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / pathology
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / physiology*
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / pathology
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa / pathology
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa / physiopathology
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa / therapy*
  • Thioredoxins / administration & dosage
  • Thioredoxins / physiology*

Substances

  • NXNL1 protein, human
  • Thioredoxins