Where Are We with RPE Replacement Therapy? A Translational Review from the Ophthalmologist Perspective

Abstract

The retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) plays a pivotal role in retinal homeostasis. It is therefore an interesting target to fill the unmet medical need of different retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt disease. RPE replacement therapy may use different cellular sources: induced pluripotent stem cells or embryonic stem cells. Cells can be transferred as suspension on a patch with different surgical approaches. Results are promising although based on very limited samples. In this review, we summarize the current progress of RPE replacement and provide a comparative assessment of different published approaches which may become standard of care in the future.

Genetic Aspects of Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Their Therapeutic Potential

“…Restoring the delicate network of connections of retinal tissue is an arduous task once atrophy occurs. The objective to be pursued is to stop photoreceptor degeneration by repairing the RPE layer before it is compromised [ 158 ]. Gene therapy aspires to the permanent and continuous expression of deficient-in-quantity or -in-quality proteins due to the underlying genetic defect.…”

Small-Incision new generation implantable miniature telescope surgical technique and patient outcomes

“…Surgical options in this cases are currently limited and include macular translocation surgery and, more recently, retinal pigment epithelial transplant. 2 In this context, different ocular implants were proposed to improve vision in advanced AMD patients: the Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT) (Visioncare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc.), 3 the Intraocular Lens for Visually Impaired People (IOL-VIP, Lenspecial) 4 and The iolAMD (London Eye Hospital Pharma). 5 More recently a new device the SING IMT (Small-Incision New Generation Implantable Miniature Telescope) was introduced.…”

“…Surgical options in this cases are currently limited and include macular translocation surgery and, more recently, retinal pigment epithelial transplant. 2…”

Scaffold-Free Strategy Using a PEG–Dextran Aqueous Two-Phase-System for Corneal Tissue Repair

“…Because such space is surgically created and is already very small, even with the scaffold material made to be very thin, it would still seem like a relatively thick structure as the retina is normally very thin at around 300 μm. This would pose a surgical challenge when inserting the transplanted material into the subretinal space, and more importantly when closing the wound and reattaching the retina because there would be a thick material underneath this layer . Fabrication of both scaffold-less corneal endothelium and epithelium will aid in our reported strategy of corneal repair.…”