Stems cells could be used to treat macular degeneration
A study at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles has found that an injection of stem cells in the eyes could be an effective treatment for vision loss caused by age-related macular degeneration. Currently, there is no treatment that slows the progression of the disease, which is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 65.
The study’s lead author, Shaomei Wang, MD, PhD explained, “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.” Published in the journal STEM CELLS, the study resulted in 130 days of preserved vision in laboratory rat; this equates roughly to 16 years for a human.
When animals with macular degeneration were injected with stem cells created using adult skin cells, healthy cells began to migrate around the retina, forming a protective layer. This shield prevented ongoing degeneration of the vital retinal cells responsible for vision.
For those who don’t know, age-related macular degeneration occurs when the small central portion of the retina – the macula – deteriorates. Aside from age, other causes of macular degeneration include a genetic predisposition, and environmental factors.
The next steps in the process include testing the safety of the stem cell injection in preclinical animal studies. In the future, clinical trials will be designed to test any potential benefit in patients with later-stage age-related macular degeneration.