The University of Illinois at Chicago has announced a phase 2 clinical trial using cord blood stem cells to treat macular degeneration. This trial is designed to test the safety and efficacy of stem cells for treating this condition.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people 55 years or older. It occurs when the cells in the centre of the retina (an area called the macular) begin to deteriorate. It leads to a loss of central vision. People with the condition find it difficult to drive, read, watch television, and recognise faces.
This is not the first time that scientists have used cord blood stem cells to treat macular degeneration. Other trials have already determined that stem cells hold great potential for treating this condition. However, this is the first to use this technique to treat this particular type of macular degeneration.
This trial will test the safety and effectiveness of cord blood stem cells for treating the “dry” version of macular degeneration. This dry version of the disease occurs when cellular debris accumulates between the retina and the choroid in the eye. It causes scarring to the retina and vision loss. This form of macular degeneration is responsible for approximately 90% of cases and has no cure.
The clinical trial will use multipotent stem cells that have been obtained from umbilical cord blood. These stem cells are capable of differentiating into many other types of cells including bone, fat, muscle, and cartilage cells.
The scientists coax the multipotent stem cells into becoming retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells that can prevent the loss of further retina cells and possibly repair the damage that has already occurred. A specialised catheter has been developed to deliver the RPE cells into the eye. It is capable of placing the cells under the retina without damaging the eye.
The trial will involve the stem cells being injected into one eye of patients with macular degeneration. Scientists will track the progress of each patient for a number of years, comparing the vision loss that occurs to each eye. If this research project is a success, doctors may soon be able to use cord blood stem cells to treat macular degeneration — restoring vision to millions of elderly people around the world.
Source: Clinical trial to assess safety of using umbilical cord cells to treat macular degeneration
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