Researchers Farm New Cells for the Eye


Diseases that affect the retina, and more specifically the photoreceptors of the retina, can cause devastating affects for those who suffer from them. With disease such as macular degeneration and retinis pigmentosa ever increasing, scientist have found various treatments and cures but none that ever fully replace the photoreceptor cells at the back of the eye. That is until now, as researchers believe they have found a way to ensure that the normally impenetrable scar tissue is removed and replaced with healthy photoreceptor cells.

When one of these vision impairing diseases strike, irreversible damage is done to the photoreceptor cells; however the nerves behind these cells remain fully functional and intact. Therefore, scientists were aware that if they found a way of replacing these cells they could restore the vision of the patient. Previous studies have tried to inject new cells into the back of the eye, but these have unfortunately failed due to the scar tissue creating a barrier between the new cells and the old nerves. The scar tissue was evidently something that needed overcoming as it is created as a side-effect of these diseases. Thus, Professor Wnek, Megan Smith (Ph.D) and a team of researchers at the University of California and Harvard University have devised an implant that eats away at the scar tissue using enzymes before the progenitor cells (these grow into photoreceptors) are released onto this now “fertile” surface.

Scientists have hailed the results (which have only been tested on mice so far) as a fantastic step in the right direction with this form of treatment. Within the mice’s eyes even progenitor cells that were inserted without the enzymes had a survival 9-fold over previous injections; and with the enzymes a further 20-fold of survival. Additionally, once the mouse was examined two weeks after the implant had been inserted, the eye showed the expression of mature photoreceptors. Research is now being conducted into making the implant as quick, easy and adaptable to the eye as possible and is to be tested within human eyes very soon.

27th January 2010

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