Researchers Unveil Promising Strategy for Glaucoma Cell Replacement Therapy In a groundbreaking development, scientists at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear have identified a potential breakthrough in glaucoma cell replacement therapy.
Glaucoma, a leading cause of global blindness, currently lacks a treatment capable of reversing vision loss resulting from the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs).
The research, conducted on the adult mouse retina, introduced a transformative micro-environmental change in the eye. This alteration enabled the conversion of stem cells from the bloodstream into functional retinal ganglion cells, capable of migration and survival within the retina.
While the study focused on the mouse retina, the findings hold promise for potential applications in human retinal treatments. One significant hurdle in existing stem cell transplantation approaches is the limited mobility of donor cells, which often remain localized and fail to migrate to crucial areas.
To address this challenge, the researchers synthesized RGCs from stem cells and investigated the impact of various chemokines, signaling molecules, on guiding these neurons to their correct positions in the retina.
Employing a “big data” approach, the team scrutinized hundreds of molecules and receptors, identifying 12 specific to RGCs. Among them, stromal-derived factor 1 emerged as the most effective molecule for both migration and transplantation.
Petr Baranov, affiliated with Mass Eye and Ear and an assistant professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, expressed optimism, stating, “This method of using chemokines to guide donor cell movement and integration represents a promising approach to restoring vision in glaucoma patients.” The research findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
