Stem cells may soon be used to reverse or slow the effects of macular degeneration, according to new research. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai research centre believe that these findings may lead to the world’s first treatment for this degenerative disease.
The research used a single stem cell injection of induced neural progenitor stem cells into rats that suffered from macular degeneration. The rats maintained the same level of eyesight for 130 days, effectively pausing the deterioration of eyesight that the disease brings.
The macular is a small central segment of the retina, the light-sensitive nerve essential for vision. It is estimated that macular degeneration affects more than 15 million Americans and it is the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 65.
After the rats were injected with induced neural progenitor stem cells (derived from induced pluripotent stem cells), healthy cells formed a protective layer around the retina. This protective layer prevented retinal cells from deteriorating any further. The damage done by the disease was temporarily stopped.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) are a type of pluripotent stem cell that can be created from adult stem cells. Adult stem cells can usually only form one type of cell, so a skin stem cell can only create skin cells. Pluripotent cells can transform into any other cell type within the human body. The study prompted the iPSC into transforming into neural cells, which can form parts of the retina.
The next step for researchers is to show that the stem cell treatment is safe and carries no serious side effects. Another round of animal testing will be conducted which may lead to a new drug and the world’s first treatment for this disease.
Source: Stem Cell Injection May Soon Reverse Vision Loss Caused By Age-Related Macular Degeneration
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