Sight for Sore Eyes?
Photo: Hadassah Medical Organization
Researchers at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem have found a way to treat and prevent the deterioration of retinas using human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). While the research was based on animal models, the researchers believe that this breakthrough may lead to a possible cure for age related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease affecting almost 2 percent of the American population over 40.
In a paper published this month in Cell-Stem Cell magazine, Prof. Benjamin Reubinoff, Director of the Hadassah Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center, and Prof. Eyal Banin, Director of the Hadassah Center for Retinal and Macular Degeneration, transplanted pigment-containing visual cells derived from hESCs in animals exhibiting macular degeneration. After the transplant, researchers observed that the cells manged to successfully preserve the structure and function of the specialized light-sensitive lining of the eye.
“Although there are a variety of therapeutic approaches under development to delay the degenerative process, the grim reality is that many patients eventually lose their sight,” explains Dr. Reubinoff. “Cell therapy, which can replenish the degenerating RPE cells, may potentially halt disease progression.”
AMD is characterized by dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a layer of cells underlying and supporting the retina, which leads to damage in the central area of the retina known as the macula. The macula is responsible for high resolution vision, and is crucial for activities such as reading, driving, watching television and recognizing faces. This cutting edge work is an important step toward the future use of hESCs to treat degenerative eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, which causes millions of people worldwide to lose their sight.
“Our findings are an important step towards the potential future use of human embryonic stem cells to support and replenish failing RPE cells in diseases that result in blindness,” Prof. Banin stated.
The next step in this research is now transfering the knowledge gained in animal models to human clinical trials.
3 comments:
From some time I’m having problems with macula degeneration and the doctors kept saiyng that there is no cure for this problem but I keep hoping that some day scientific research of some kind would evolve and find the cure, my prayers have been answered .Maybe some day I’l get the oportunity to recover my eyesight
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i had an ulcer last year because i am fond of skipping meals and working too hard. it was quite painful,~’
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With stem cell research at the cutting edge of a lot of clinical trials, the future looks bright.
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