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Written By: Agencies | Updated : April 16, 2015 11:35 AM IST
Stem cells have been used widely nowadays to treat a variety of diseases like type-2 diabetes, heart disease, skin conditions, etc. Scientists from the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute in the US have now used stem cells to treat age-related macular degeneration. The study claims that injecting stem cells into the eye may soon slow or reverse the effects of early-stage age-related disorder that causes vision loss.
Currently, there is no treatment that slows the progression of age related vision loss caused by macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 65. 'This is the first study to show preservation of vision after a single injection of adult-derived human cells into a rat model with age-related macular degeneration,' said lead author of the study Shaomei Wang. (Read: Gene that leads to vision loss nailed!)
The stem cell injection resulted in 130 days of preserved vision in laboratory rats, which roughly equates to 16 years in humans. For the study, the researchers first converted adult human skin cells into powerful induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), which can be expanded indefinitely and then made into any cell of the human body. These induced pluripotent stem cells were then directed toward a neural progenitor cell fate, known as induced neural progenitor stem cells, or iNPCs. (Read: Expert tips to keep your eyes healthy)
'These induced neural progenitor stem cells are a novel source of adult-derived cells which should have powerful effects on slowing down vision loss associated with macular degeneration,' contributing author to the study Clive Svendsen, director, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, pointed out. 'Though additional pre-clinical data is needed, our institute is close to a time when we can offer adult stem cells as a promising source for personalised therapies for this and other human diseases,' Svendsen noted. The study was published in the journal Stem Cells. (Read: Protect your eyes from heat: Expert tips)
Source: IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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