Intravitreal Stem Cell Paracrine Properties As a Potential Neuroprotective Therapy for Retinal Photoreceptor Neurodegenerative Diseases
Overview
Affiliations
Retinal degenerations are the leading causes of irreversible visual loss worldwide. Many pathologies included under this umbrella involve progressive degeneration and ultimate loss of the photoreceptor cells, with age-related macular degeneration and inherited and ischemic retinal diseases the most relevant. These diseases greatly impact patients' daily lives, with accompanying marked social and economic consequences. However, the currently available treatments only delay the onset or slow progression of visual impairment, and there are no cures for these photoreceptor diseases. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are being investigated, such as gene therapy, optogenetics, cell replacement, or cell-based neuroprotection. Specifically, stem cells can secrete neurotrophic, immunomodulatory, and anti-angiogenic factors that potentially protect and preserve retinal cells from neurodegeneration. Further, neuroprotection can be used in different types of retinal degenerative diseases and at different disease stages, unlike other potential therapies. This review summarizes stem cell-based paracrine neuroprotective strategies for photoreceptor degeneration, which are under study in clinical trials, and the latest preclinical studies. Effective retinal neuroprotection could be the next frontier in photoreceptor diseases, and the development of novel neuroprotective strategies will address the unmet therapeutic needs.
Exploring Stem-Cell-Based Therapies for Retinal Regeneration.
Radu M, Branisteanu D, Pirvulescu R, Dumitrescu O, Ionescu M, Zemba M Life (Basel). 2024; 14(6).
PMID: 38929652 PMC: 11204673. DOI: 10.3390/life14060668.
Towards Stem/Progenitor Cell-Based Therapies for Retinal Degeneration.
Liu H, Lu S, Chen M, Gao N, Yang Y, Hu H Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2024; 20(6):1459-1479.
PMID: 38809490 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10740-4.
Ahmed L, Al-Massri K Mol Neurobiol. 2024; 61(8):5916-5927.
PMID: 38252384 PMC: 11249772. DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03916-z.
A Novel Device for Suprachoroidal Drug Delivery to Retina: Evaluation in Nonhuman Primates.
Rotenstreich Y, Sher I, Lawrence M, Mangelus M, Ingerman A, Barak Y Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2023; 12(6):3.
PMID: 37289173 PMC: 10257339. DOI: 10.1167/tvst.12.6.3.
Stem cell therapy in retinal diseases.
Voisin A, Penaguin A, Gaillard A, Leveziel N Neural Regen Res. 2022; 18(7):1478-1485.
PMID: 36571345 PMC: 10075102. DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.361537.