Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma, represent the main causes of a decreased quality of vision or even blindness worldwide. However, despite considerable efforts, the treatment possibilities for these disorders remain very limited. A perspective is offered by cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These cells can be obtained from the bone marrow or adipose tissue of a particular patient, expanded in vitro and used as the autologous cells. MSCs possess potent immunoregulatory properties and can inhibit a harmful inflammatory reaction in the diseased retina. By the production of numerous growth and neurotrophic factors, they support the survival and growth of retinal cells. In addition, MSCs can protect retinal cells by antiapoptotic properties and could contribute to the regeneration of the diseased retina by their ability to differentiate into various cell types, including the cells of the retina. All of these properties indicate the potential of MSCs for the therapy of diseased retinas. This view is supported by the recent results of numerous experimental studies in different preclinical models. Here we provide an overview of the therapeutic properties of MSCs, and their use in experimental models of retinal diseases and in clinical trials.
Highlights
The retina is a highly specialized structure composed of several layers of morphologically and functionally different cell types
In this respect we showed that mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (BM-MSCs) administered intravenously migrated in a significantly higher number to the injured eye than into the contralateral healthy eye [53], and that adipose tissuederived MSCs (A-MSCs) delivered intraperitoneally into transplanted mice were detected in a significantly higher amount in skin allografts than in healthy skin [54]
MSCs and that could contribute to retinal regeneration are hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), pigment epithelium growth factor (PEGF), fibrocyte growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), angiopoietin1, erythropoietin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) [16,57,63,64,65,66]
Summary
The retina is a highly specialized structure composed of several layers of morphologically and functionally different cell types. The individual layers are mutually interconnected and their primary function is to capture a light signal via the photoreceptors and to convert it into electrical impulses. These impulses are relayed to ganglion cells and pass through the optic nerve into the visual cortex of the brain. Of the different etiologies and various causes of retinal disorders, cumulative damage and loss of retinal cells, chronic inflammation, immune cell infiltration and enhanced cytokine secretion by immune and retinal cells represent the main pathological signs of retinal degenerative diseases, which represent the leading cause of blindness worldwide
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
