Stem cells in retinal regeneration: past, present and future

• Published in: Development (Cambridge) Vol. 140; no. 12; pp. 2576 - 2585
• Main Authors: Ramsden, Conor M, Powner, Michael B, Carr, Amanda-Jayne F, Smart, Matthew J K, da Cruz, Lyndon, Coffey, Peter J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Company of Biologists 15.06.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Bone Marrow - metabolism; Clinical Trials as Topic; Embryonic Stem Cells - cytology; Embryonic Stem Cells - metabolism; Humans; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - cytology; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - metabolism; Macular Degeneration - congenital; Macular Degeneration - metabolism; Macular Degeneration - therapy; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate - metabolism; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate - pathology; Rats; Regeneration; Retina - metabolism; Retina - pathology; Retinal Pigment Epithelium - cytology; Retinal Pigment Epithelium - metabolism; Retinitis Pigmentosa - metabolism; Retinitis Pigmentosa - therapy; Reviews; Stem Cell Transplantation - methods; Clinical trials; A ge-related macular degeneration; Stargardt's disease; Retinitis pigmentosa; Stem cells
• ISSN: 0950-1991; 1477-9129
• DOI: 10.1242/dev.092270

Stem cell therapy for retinal disease is under way, and several clinical trials are currently recruiting. These trials use human embryonic, foetal and umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells and bone marrow-derived stem cells to treat visual disorders such as age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt's disease and retinitis pigmentosa. Over a decade of analysing the developmental cues involved in retinal generation and stem cell biology, coupled with extensive surgical research, have yielded differing cellular approaches to tackle these retinopathies. Here, we review these various stem cell-based approaches for treating retinal diseases and discuss future directions and challenges for the field.