via www.medicaldaily.com
An injection of stem cells into the eye may soon slow or reverse the effects of early-stage age-related macular degeneration, according to new research from scientists at Cedars-Sinai
Currently, there is no treatment that slows the progression of the disease, which is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 65.
“This is the first study to show preservation of vision after a single injection of adult-derived human cells into a rat model with age-related macular degeneration,” said Shaomei Wang, MD, PhD, lead author of the study published in the journal STEM CELLS and a research scientist in the Eye Program at the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute.
The stem cell injection resulted in 130 days of preserved vision in laboratory rats, which roughly equates to 16 years in humans.
Age-related macular degeneration affects upward of 15 million Americans. It occurs when the small central portion of the retina, known as the macula, deteriorates. The retina is the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye. Macular degeneration may also be caused by environmental factors, aging and a genetic predisposition.
When animal models with macular degeneration were injected with induced neural progenitor stem cells, which derive from the more commonly known induced pluripotent stem cells, healthy cells began to migrate around the retina and formed a protective layer. This protective layer prevented ongoing degeneration of the vital retinal cells responsible for vision.
Cedars-Sinai researchers in the Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Core, directed by Dhruv Sareen, PhD, with support from the David and Janet Polak Foundation Stem Cell Core Laboratory, first converted adult human skin cells into powerful induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), which can be expanded indefinitely and then made into any cell of the human body. In this study, these induced pluripotent stem cells were then directed toward a neural progenitor cell fate, known as induced neural progenitor stem cells, or iNPCs.
“These induced neural progenitor stem cells are a novel source of adult-derived cells which should have powerful effects on slowing down vision loss associated with macular degeneration,” said Clive Svendsen, PhD, director of the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and contributing author to the study. “Though additional pre-clinical data is needed, our institute is close to a time when we can offer adult stem cells as a promising source for personalized therapies for this and other human diseases.”
Read more: Stem Cell Injection May Soon Reverse Vision Loss Caused By Age-Related Macular Degeneration
The Latest on: Age-Related Macular Degeneration
via Google News
The Latest on: Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Research points to new hope for treatment-resistant age-related macular degenerationon March 1, 2021 at 4:51 am
An oxysterol that accumulates in the eye with age can transform choroidal endothelial cells; interfering with the process might help patients with treatment-resistant age-related macular degeneration.
- Oxular raises $37 millionon March 1, 2021 at 4:26 am
Oxular Limited ("Oxular"), a leading retinal therapeutics development company, today announced that it has completed a $37 million (£27 million) financing led by Forbion. Proceeds will fund planned ...
- Annexon Advances Classical Complement Platform with Initiation of Global Phase 2 ARCHER Trial ...on February 28, 2021 at 8:02 pm
(“Annexon”) (Nasdaq: ANNX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for patients with classical complement-mediated disorders of the body, brain and eye, announced that ...
- Improved sensitivity of microperimetric outcomes for clinical studies in age-related macular degenerationon February 26, 2021 at 6:55 am
To investigate sensitive outcome measures based exclusively on abnormal points in microperimetry testing of eyes with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD). 25 eyes of 25 subjects with ...
- Health Watch: Age Related Macular Degeneration is highlighted for Low Vision Awareness Monthon February 24, 2021 at 5:11 pm
There are certain types of vision loss that can’t be simply solved with a pair of lenses. February is the National Eye Institute’s Low Vision Awareness Month, a campaign designed to educate the nation ...
- The need to investigate hyperuricemia as a factor in the onset of age-related macular degenerationon February 24, 2021 at 6:35 am
Serum uric acid levels and its association with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Med J Malays. 2010;65:36–40. Singh JA, Cleveland JD. Gout and the risk of age-related macular degeneration in ...
- Stealth BioTherapeutics Completes Enrollment of Phase 2 Study in Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Geographic Atrophyon February 23, 2021 at 4:30 am
Stealth BioTherapeutics Corp (Nasdaq: MITO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for diseases involving mitochondrial ...
- Scientists find new therapeutic approach to effectively treat age-related macular degenerationon February 22, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) has been linked to retinal neovascularization and the development of abnormal blood vessels, which result in vision loss in diabetic retinopathy.
- New Hope for Better Macular Degeneration Treatmentson February 22, 2021 at 10:25 am
A number of new treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a progressive eye disease, are under development.
- New Hope for Better Treatments Against Macular Degenerationon February 22, 2021 at 6:11 am
"While our current treatments have made a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, new treatments offer hope to patients whose AMD previously could not be treated," said retina ...
via Bing News
