Retinal stem cells: promising candidates for retina transplantation

Abstract

Stem cell transplantation is widely considered as a promising therapeutic approach for photoreceptor degeneration, one of the major causes of blindness. In this review, we focus on the biology of retinal stem cells (RSCs) and progenitor cells (RPCs) isolated from fetal, postnatal, and adult animals, with emphasis on those from rodents and humans. We discuss the origin of RSCs/RPCs, the markers expressed by these cells and the conditions for the isolation, culture, and differentiation of these cells in vitro or in vivo by induction with exogenous stimulation.

A tissue-engineered approach towards retinal repair: Scaffolds for cell transplantation to the subretinal space

“…RPCs retain these progenitor cell advantages and with the advantages of differentiating into the cell types of the retina. RPCs hold promise for replacing damaged photoreceptors and represent an attractive cell type for a scaffold for cell transplantation to the subretinal space [104,105]. However, the replacement of photoreceptors represents only a partial solution for retinal repair.…”

“…RPCs have demonstrated an ability to integrate into the injured [7], and adult rodent retina [7,103]. When isolated from mouse retinas during the timeframe corresponding to photoreceptor development [7], these cells can differentiate into photoreceptors in vivo, and hold great promise for replacing damaged photoreceptors [104,105].…”

Stem cells: established facts, open issues, and future directions

“…Similar to the brain, the retina of the eye harbors stem cells and progenitor cells that can be isolated from fetal, postnatal, and adult animals. Djojosubroto and Arsenijevic (2007) discuss the origins and expression of markers of these stem cells.…”

Characteristics of retinal stem cells from rat optic cup at embryonic day 12.5 (tailbud stage)

“…Retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration are two major groups of retinal degeneration disease in humans and are leading causes of blindness because of photoreceptor degeneration (Djojosubroto and Arsenijevic 2008). Several avenues of research are being pursued, e.g., replacement therapies and pharmacological treatment.…”