Promises of stem cell therapy for retinal degenerative diseases

With the development of stem cell technology, stem cell-based therapy for retinal degeneration has been proposed to restore the visual function. Many animal studies and some clinical trials have shown encouraging results of stem cell-based therapy in retinal degenerative diseases. While stem cell-based therapy is a promising strategy to replace damaged retinal cells and ultimately cure retinal degeneration, there are several important challenges which need to be overcome before stem cell technology can be applied widely in clinical settings. In this review, different types of donor cell origins used in retinal treatments, potential target cell types for therapy, methods of stem cell delivery to the eye, assessments of potential risks in stem cell therapy, as well as future developments of retinal stem cells therapy, will be discussed

RPE and Stem Cell Therapy

acceptedVersionPeer reviewe

An unusual and spontaneous resolution of a total rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

4noSpontaneous reattachment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is a rare event that involves the relief of vitreoretinal traction, closure of the retinal breaks, and reabsorption of subretinal fluid. Diffuse retinal pigmentary alterations within a sharply demarcated and convex margin are the most common findings within the areas corresponding to the reattached retina in all the cases described in the literature. The authors report the case of a 60-year-old man who experienced spontaneous reattachment of a total rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with gradual recovery of visual function and a completely restored retina. This is the first case reported that does not exhibit the ophthalmoscopic findings commonly described in the literature.nonenoneMercanti, Andrea; Renna, Antonio; Prosperi, Raffaele; Lanzetta, PaoloMercanti, Andrea; Renna, Antonio; Prosperi, Raffaele; Lanzetta, Paol

Subretinal transplantation of genetically modified human cell lines attenuates loss of visual function in dystrophic rats

Royal College of Surgeons rats are genetically predisposed to undergo significant visual loss caused by a primary dysfunction of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. By using this model, we have examined the efficacy of subretinal transplantation of two independent human RPE cell lines each exhibiting genetic modifications that confer long-term stability in vitro. The two cell lines, a spontaneously derived cell line (ARPE19) and an extensively characterized genetically engineered human RPE cell line (h1RPE7), which expresses SV40 large T (tumor) antigen, were evaluated separately. Both lines result in a significant preservation of visual function as assessed by either behavioral or physiological techniques. This attenuation of visual loss correlates with photoreceptor survival and the presence of donor cells in the areas of rescued photoreceptors at 5 months postgrafting (6 months of age). These results demonstrate the potential of genetically modified human RPE cells for ultimate application in therapeutic transplantation strategies for retinal degenerative diseases caused by RPE dysfunction