Journal
STEM CELL RESEARCH
Volume 15, Issue 2, Pages 387-394Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2015.08.007
Keywords
Epiretinal transplantation; Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; RCS rats; Retinal degeneration
Funding
- Claire and Amedee Maratier Institute for the Study of Blindness and Visual Disorders, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Vision incapacitation and blindness associated with incurable retinal degeneration affect millions of people worldwide. In this study, 0.25 x 10(6) human bone marrow stem cells (hBM-MSCs) were transplanted epiretinally in the right eye of Royal College Surgeons (RCS) rats at the age of 28 days. Epiretinally transplanted cells were identified as a thin layer of cells along vitreous cavity, in close proximity to the retina or attached to the lens capsule, up to 6 weeks following transplantation. Epiretinal transplantation delayed photoreceptor degeneration and rescued retinal function up to 20 weeks following cell transplantation. Visual functions remained close to normal levels in epiretinal transplantation rats. No inflammation or any other adverse effects were observed in transplanted eyes. Our findings suggest that transplantation of hBM-MSCs as a thin epiretinal layer is effective for treatment of retinal degeneration in RCS rats, and that transplanting the cells in close proximity to the retina enhances hBM-MSC therapeutic effect compared with intravitreal injection. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available