Stem cells as a therapeutic tool for the blind: Biology and future prospects

Mandeep S. Singh, Robert E. MacLaren

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Retinal degeneration due to genetic, diabetic and age-related disease is the most common cause of blindness in the developed world. Blindness occurs through the loss of the light-sensing photoreceptors; to restore vision, it would be necessary to introduce alternative photosensitive components into the eye. The recent development of an electronic prosthesis placed beneath the severely diseased retina has shown that subretinal stimulation may restore some visual function in blind patients. This proves that residual retinal circuits can be reawakened after photoreceptor loss and defines a goal for stem-cell-based therapy to replace photoreceptors. Advances in reprogramming adult cells have shown how it may be possible to generate autologous stem cells for transplantation without the need for an embryo donor. The recent success in culturing a whole optic cup in vitro has shown how large numbers of photoreceptors might be generated from embryonic stem cells. Taken together, these threads of discovery provide the basis for optimism for the development of a stem-cell-based strategy for the treatment of retinal blindness.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3009-3016
Number of pages8
JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume278
Issue number1721
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 22 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Age-related macular degeneration
  • Embryonic stem cell
  • Induced pluripotent stem cell
  • Retinal degeneration
  • Retinitis pigmentosa
  • Transplantation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • General Environmental Science
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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