Two Research Teams Advance Stem Cell Treatments for Retinal Diseases
Two separate research teams have published findings on the use of stem cells to address retinal diseases, detailing different approaches and cellular mechanisms.
Duke University: Generating Retinal Endothelial Cells from iPSCs
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have generated retinal endothelial cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for the first time.
The method is presented as a potential way to reduce cost and increase supply compared to current methods that rely on patient-derived cells.
Methodology:
The cells were created using a two-step process:
- Commercial iPSCs were first converted into common endothelial cells.
- A growth factor cocktail was then used to specialize these into retinal endothelial cells.
Laboratory Observations:
- The generated cells formed networks and structures similar to those found in natural retinal tissue.
- Exposure to low oxygen and high glucose levels caused the tissue barrier to break down, a condition researchers described as mimicking diabetic retinopathy.
In Vivo Testing:
- In mouse models of retinal disease, the cells were injected before vision loss occurred.
- The cells subsequently integrated into existing tissue and contributed to the development of functional blood vessels with strong barriers.
Additional Details:
- The results were published June 30 in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
- Funding was provided by the National Eye Institute and NASA, among other sources.
- The research team has a patent pending related to stem cell-based therapeutics and in vitro drug discovery modeling.
Cedars-Sinai: Identifying Neural Stem Cell Mechanism for Vision Preservation
Investigators at Cedars-Sinai have identified the mechanism by which transplanted neural stem cells interact with host retinal cells to preserve vision in retinitis pigmentosa. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
Prior research demonstrated that these transplants reduced vision loss in the animals for up to 180 days, which researchers noted is roughly equivalent to 20 years in humans.
Methodology and Findings:
- Neural stem cells were transplanted into the retinas of laboratory rats with retinal degeneration.
- Single-cell analysis indicated that the neural stem cells protect vision through several actions:
- Providing protective proteins.
- Restoring retinal cells to a healthier state.
- Reducing cellular stress.
- Maintaining retinal integrity.
Researchers' Statements:
- Clive Svendsen, PhD, executive director of the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, stated that the study showed neural stem cells protect vision through several methods.
- Shaomei Wang, MD, PhD, professor of Biomedical Sciences, stated that the interaction between neural stem cells and host retinal cells changes dynamically over time. Wang added that understanding this process may enable the development of more powerful approaches to treat eye diseases.
Future Research:
- Researchers are evaluating neural stem cells engineered to express key protective proteins identified in this study, with the goal of potentially improving the host retinal environment.