Stem cells for the treatment of macular degeneration
Researchers at the Bonn University Clinic and the Neural Stem Cell Institute in New York have developed a method for using stem cells to replace eye cells that die in age-related macular degeneration.
To date, 4.5 million people suffer from age-related macular degeneration in Germany alone, which is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50 years of age. This disease is associated with a gradual deterioration of visual acuity, which can lead to loss of the ability to read and drive a car. At the same time, the blurriness of the image first appears in the center, after which it spreads throughout the entire field of view. The reason for this is damage to the layer of cells located under the retina and known as the retinal pigment epithelium. It performs the function of coordinating the metabolism and functioning of the sensitive cells of the eye. Inflammatory processes in this layer of the epithelium lead to a decrease in the efficiency of excretion of waste cells and are associated with the development of macular degeneration. To date, age-related macular degeneration is an incurable disease, and existing treatments can only alleviate the symptoms.
Currently, various research groups are developing methods for growing retinal pigment epithelium in the laboratory from human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells for subsequent implantation. According to the authors, they tried for the first time to use stem cells of the retinal pigment epithelium of adults for these purposes.
These cells were cultured in the laboratory on the surface of small polyester discs before forming a thin layer. Fragments of this monolayer, together with a polyester substrate, were implanted on the retina of rabbits using the method developed by the authors.
Diagram from an article in Stem Cell Reports
A coherent optical tomography performed 4 days and a week after the procedure confirmed the viability of the implanted cells, which indicated their integration into the surrounding tissue. Histological analysis performed 4 weeks after implantation demonstrated the presence of a single monolayer of polarized human retinal pigment epithelium cells under the retina. The polarization of the cells indicated that they retained the characteristics characteristic of cells of this type.
The authors believe that the results obtained indicate the possibility of using adult stem cells of the retinal pigment epithelium to replace cells that degrade with age-related macular degeneration. However, the introduction of this approach into clinical practice is still very far away, as the developers have to overcome several problems, including the retinal atrophy observed in the animal model over the implantation area.
Article by Boris V. Stanzel et al. Human RPE stem cells grown into Polarized RPE Monolayers on a Polyester Matrix are Maintained after grafting into Rabbit Subretinal Space published in the journal Stem Cell Reports.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the University of Bonn:
Stem cell replacement for frequent age-related blindness.
15.01.2014