Stem Cells and Sight: The secrets of therapy for Retinitis in the future have been revealed - Eye Stem Cell Center Stem Cells and Sight: The secrets of therapy for Retinitis in the future have been revealed

Retinitis is a general term applied to a number of eye diseases which progress to the retina’s gradual degeneration. The retina is critical for the ability to collect light and send the necessary information to the nervous system. Its damage is always accompanied by drastic effects on vision. Of all the types of retinitis, Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common. RP is genetic, and patients suffer from night blindness and peripheral vision.

There is no cure specific to RP. The disease is mainly treated by controlling the signs and the progression of the symptoms. This is where stem cell therapy in Germany comes into play, providing relief to those who are suffering from this dreadful disease.

Stem cell therapy in Germany

The stem cells are distinct in their characteristics due to their special capability to form different kinds of cells within the body. They can act as a replacement that is a substitute for the damaged or lost cells, thus, acting as a major player in regenerative medicine. Application of stem cells in the case of RP can also mean the restoration of damaged retinal cells or even layers of the retina.

Several types of stem cells are used to treat RP:

Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs): Stem cells are derived from the early stage embryonic tissue and thus are known as embryonic stem cells or ESCs, which are pluripotent.

• Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs): iPSCs are body cells of adults. Its advantage includes the fact that they are specific to individual patients and are less tainted by some of the ethics involved in ESCs. This is applied to produce retinal cells presented on iPSCs in regard to an individual’s genome.
• Adult Stem Cells: These are located in almost any type of tissue, including the actual retina. They are somewhat less versatile in their capacity to develop into many varied cell kinds. However, they remain a potential source for new therapies.

Stem cell therapy: New advances in application to retinitis

The field of stem cell therapy for RP in Germany is rapidly advancing, with several noteworthy breakthroughs:

Retinal Cell Replacement – Probably the most interesting application is the employment of stem cells for the regeneration of retinal cells which have suffered some form of damage. ESC and iPSCs showed that both these cells are being used to derive RPE cells and implant them into patients’ eyes. They can assist in the recovery of the layer’s functionality to help prevent or even reverse the deterioration of vision. Many patients receiving these transplants have shown an improvement in their vision and stabilization of the condition.

There are two major revolutions: Gene Editing and Stem Cells – The use of the techniques of gene editing alongside stem cell treatment is very advanced. When transplanting the cells into the patients, techniques such as CRISPR/cas9 are used to edit the mutation of genes that cause RP. The combination of genetic correction of the defective gene and the replacement of the harmed cells proves effective in dealing with both the manifestations of retinitis and their causes.

Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Organoids – Retinal organoids are small-scale in vitro models that are created with cells of the retina that look and function like one. They are developed from stem cells that allow analyzing disease progression and characterizing new treatments.

Conclusion

Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of hereditary degenerative diseases of the eye that result in gradual vision impairment and, in some cases, blindness. As researchers at Eyestemcellcenter explore the potential of stem cell therapy for retinitis the outlook for the restoration of patients’ vision also brightens.