Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies for Degenerative Disease of the Outer Retina: Disease Modeling and Cell Replacement
Year: 2016
Type: review
Abstract: Stem cell therapies are being explored as potential treatments for retinal disease. How to replace neurons in a degenerated retina presents a continued challenge for the regenerative medicine field that, if achieved, could restore sight. The major issues are: (i) the source and availability of donor cells for transplantation; (ii) the differentiation of stem cells into the required retinal cells; and (iii) the delivery, integration, functionality, and survival of new cells in the host neural network. This review considers the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), currently under intense investigation, as a platform for cell transplantation therapy. Moreover, patient-specific iPSC are being developed for autologous cell transplantation and as a tool for modeling specific retinal diseases, testing gene therapies, and drug screening.
Institution: University College London
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust/Institute of Cancer Research, Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Rosetrees Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Medical Research Council
Awards: Using cell surface antigens for the isolation of human photoreceptor precursor cells for retinal stem cell therapy, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, Overcoming immunological barriers to regenerative medicine, Development of stem cell therapy to restore photopic vision, NIHR Senior Investigator Award
OpenAlex ID: W2337547144