Retina Research

Retina Research

Scientists at the University of Washington have successfully used human embryonic stem cells to treat diseased portions of the retina in mice, according to an article in the Seattle Times. The research was done with one of the federally approved lines. Stem cells derived from mice have previously been shown to have an effect upon retinal damage, but this is reported to be the first time human ESCs have done so. The MIT Technology Review also has a story on the subject.

The major challenge of the research was finding the right combination of growth factors. The scientists used growth factors that contribute to the development of the head in humans and mice, and also used a growth factor that contributes to a large eye size in frogs. With this combination of growth factors, the cells developed into retinal progenitor cells about twice as fast as they would in utero. The new cells replaced damaged rods, cones, and amacrine cells in the retina. Being able to create cells that developed into photoreceptors is a significant step forward in treating eye disease with stem cells, as it has been very difficult to reliably get stem cells to differentiate into the right kind and number of eye cells.

The researchers hope that this might lead to a treatment for human retinal diseases, such as macular degeneration, within two years. (It would be used for degenerative diseases and not—at least so far—as a treatment for blindness caused by other factors.) They are watching for the results of a California biotech company (ACT in Alameda) that is using the same ESC line as they did in similar research. ACT hopes to start human trials by the end of next year.

The next step will be to transplant the stem cells into blind animals and to see if the blindness can be reversed. Treatments of the eye with stem cells are really important, not only because vision is such a key sense to people, but also because they may provide information about how to treat the degeneration of other kinds of neural tissue. Since the retina is essentially an extension of the nerves in the brain, what works for the retina might work for brain or spinal degeneration.

In a somewhat related story, the Glasgow Daily Record reported that a young Scotsman is going to have umbilical-cord derived stem cell treatment to try to cure a rare degenerative disease of the eye called Lebers. The stem cells will be injected into his arm and his temples. The procedure will take place at a clinic in Rotterdam which has claimed success with using umbilical stem cells to treat multiple sclerosis. Most neurologists do not believe the MS treatment actually works, so it will be interesting to see if there is a success in the treatment for the nerve damage this man has sustained.