Stem Cell (2007, 2018, 2022, 2023) Treatment in Macular Degeneration

research

2023

This 2023 review of studies provides an update of treatments and therapies either currently applied or in developmental research stages. Among these, cellular-regeneration treatment for AMD is discussed. Because the inner retina is still functional with severe AMD, replacing, removing, and/or restoring it with new healthy tissue, particularly with potent stem-cell-derived cells, is thought to be very promising.

Chaudhuri M, Hassan Y, Bakka Vemana PPS, Bellary Pattanashetty MS, Abdin ZU, et al. (2023). Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Exponentially Emerging Imminent Threat of Visual Impairment and Irreversible Blindness. Cureus. May 29;15(5):e39624.

2022, 2023

Both a 2022 study and a 2023 review of studies discuss stem-cell therapies among the top 5 or 6 leading therapies for treating dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD). Stem cells hold promising potential to 1). reduce the rate of retinal and RPE cell loss, and/or 2) regenerate retinal cells.

Cabral de Guimaraes TA, Daich Varela M, Georgiou M, Michaelides M. (2022). Treatments for dry age-related macular degeneration: therapeutic avenues, clinical trials and future directions. Br J Ophthalmol. Mar;106(3):297-304. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Girgis S, Lee LR. (2023).Treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration: A review. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. Nov;51(8):835-852. Epub Sep 22.

2018

Studies for the purpose of replacing or rescuing old, dead, or dying cells with new young ones have been developing in the field and are bringing progress toward effective safe cellular therapies that can be used routinely in patients for late-stage AMD. The outer retina has been at the forefront of research in cellular regenerative therapies, and stem cell-derived cells have been given the major focus among cell sources. This 2018 study outlines the detailed challenges required before safe, reproducible, and sustainable results are put to use for AMD cell and stem-cell treatment.

Chichagova V, Hallam D, Collin J, Zerti D, Dorgau B, et al. (2018) Cellular regeneration strategies for macular degeneration: past, present and future. Eye (Lond). May;32(5):946-971. Epub 2018 Mar 5.

2007

Could an out-patient surgical procedure for cure of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with stem cells transfer become commonplace in the next decade?

During a recent visit to discuss the possibility of conducting human trials of retinal stem cell transplants in India, Professor Pete Coffey, from University College London (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom; reportedly told the Times of India:

"... some cases, the transplants were so successful that the patients were able to read, cycle and use a computer. By 2011, we will make it a 45-minute out patient operation."

Professor Pete Coffey and his colleagues at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology in London, UK, have previously written:

  • "Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) transplantation aims to restore the subretinal anatomy and re-establish the critical interaction between the RPE and the photoreceptor, which is fundamental to sight."1
  • "Diseases that have been treated with RPE transplantation demonstrating partial reversal of vision loss include primary RPE dystrophies ... photoreceptor dystrophies as well as complex retinal diseases such as atrophic and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  • "Unfortunately, in the human trials the visual recovery has been limited at best and full visual recovery has not been demonstrated."
  • "Autologous full-thickness transplants have been used most commonly and effectively in human disease but the search for a cell source to replace autologous RPE such as embryonic stem cells, marrow-derived stem cells, umbilical cord-derived cells as well as immortalised cell lines continues."

Reference: da Cruz L, Chen FK, Ahmado A, Greenwood J, Coffey P. : RPE transplantation and its role in retinal disease. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2007 Nov;26(6):598-635.