Stem cell treatment for macular degeneration - AMD
Damaged retina cells from macular degeneration
are restored by research scientists in a lab
Macular degeneration can damage and destroy the
retinal pigment cells in the
macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see
fine detail. (See diagram below.)
Once these pigment cells are damaged, there is no
way to recover them.
Research scientists in Boston's Schepens Eye
Research Institute, where
Dr. Dana Deupree spent a year doing research, have reported that they've used stem cells,
derived from skin, to
regenerate large, damaged areas of retina and macula cells in
mice.
The Schepens scientists harvested skin stem cells
from the tails of mice. The induced
pluripotent stem
cells (IPSCs) have the ability to morph into any
other cell type in the body -- similar to the
controversial embryonic stem cells, which have
ethical and political issues.
These cells, along with some chemical inducement,
altered themselves to become functional retinal photoreceptor
cells and, after 4-6 weeks, assembled into
healthy
retinal tissue. When the mouse eyes were tested with
special electrodes that measure the electrical
responses of photoreceptor cells in the retina,
researchers discovered a significant increase in
visual function.
These cells... altered themselves to become
functional retinal photoreceptor cells
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There has been an abundance of research in the areas
of stem cell therapy for the multiple
eye diseases
that don't currently have cures. These diseases
include
macular degeneration,
retinitis pigmentosa,
diabetic eye diseases and many others.
Hopefully, these early lab rodent studies will
result in novel therapies in
upcoming years.
Check back here at our
website as Dr. Deupree
actively researches new approaches in eye disease
treatments and therapies.
As of right now, The Macula Center and Dr. Deupree
DO NOT perform stem cell transplant for any eye
disease.
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