Abstract
Distinct stem cell types have been established from embryos and identified in the fetal tissues and umbilical cord blood as well as in specific niches in many adult mammalian tissues and organs such as bone marrow, brain, skin, eyes, heart, kidneys, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, liver, breast, ovaries, and prostate. All stem cells are undifferentiated cells that exhibit unlimited self-renewal and can generate multiple cell lineages or more restricted progenitor populations that can contribute to tissue homeostasis by replenishing the cells or to tissue regeneration after injury. The remarkable progress of regenerative medicine in the last few years indicates promise for the use of stem cells in the treatment of ophthalmic disorders. Experimental and human studies with intravitreal bone marrow-derived stem cells have begun. This paper reviews recent advances and potential sources of stem cells for cell therapy in retinal diseases.
Highlights
Stem cells Stem cell (SC) therapy is not a new concept
Distinct SC types have been established from embryos and identified in fetal tissues and umbilical cord blood (UCB) as well as in specific niches in many adult mammalian tissues and organs such as bone marrow (BM), brain, skin, eyes, heart, kidneys, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, liver, breast, ovaries, prostate, and testis [3]
Long-term data showed no gross or microscopic evidence of teratoma/tumor formation after subretinal human embryonic stem cell (hESC) retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell transplantation. These results suggest that hESCs could serve as a potentially safe and inexhaustible source of RPE cells for the efficacious treatment of a range of retinal degenerative diseases
Summary
Stem cells Stem cell (SC) therapy is not a new concept. In the aftermath of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, researchers discovered that bone marrow (BM) transplanted into irradiated mice produced hematopoiesis [1]. There are a number of well-defined mouse models and cell surface markers that allow effective studies of hematopoiesis in healthy and injured mice Because of these characteristics and the experience of BM transplantation in the treatment of hematological cancers, BM-derived SCs have become an important tool in regenerative medicine. Otani and colleagues [16] demonstrated that, whenever a fraction of mouse or human adult BM-derived SCs (lineage-negative hematopoietic stem cells, or Lin-HSCs) containing endothelial precursors stabilizes and rescues retinal blood vessels that would ordinarily completely degenerate, a dramatic neurotrophic rescue effect is observed. Long-term data (spanning the life of the animals) showed no gross or microscopic evidence of teratoma/tumor formation after subretinal hESC RPE cell transplantation These results suggest that hESCs could serve as a potentially safe and inexhaustible source of RPE cells for the efficacious treatment of a range of retinal degenerative diseases. Et al [34] ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01068561 [19] Siqueira [92] Ethics committee of Brazil Register: 16018 Siqueira [92] Ethics committee of Brazil Register: 15978 Siqueira [92] Ethics Committee of Brazil Register: 16062 Advanced Cell Technology Inc. [100]
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