Is It Time for Stem Cell Treatment? (PDF)

Stem cell transplantation is being explored as a treatment for vision loss associated with both ocular and neurologic diseases. This need arises because of the limited capacity for endogenous repair after injury in the mammalian central nervous system. Vision loss in optic neuropathies is associated with the loss of retinal ganglion cell activity, which leads to reduced regenerative capacity and further loss of retinal ganglion cells and oligodendrocytes. Stem cell transplantation can potentially enhance survival of neurons or glia (cell protection) or replace the neuronsand glia that are lost (cell replacement). There are considerable donor and host issues to overcome that impact the differentiation, integration, and long-term survival of the transplanted cells. A variety of transplantable stem cells, delivered as cell suspensions or as preformed 3Dpatches or organoid structures, are in development.