In a remarkable medical breakthrough, doctors have successfully used stem cells to treat a debilitating eye condition that can lead to vision loss. The world-first procedure, which involves transplanting lab-grown corneal cells derived from human stem cells, has the potential to restore sight for those suffering from a condition called limbal stem cell deficiency.
LSCD is a devastating disorder that occurs when the stem cells responsible for maintaining the cornea’s outer layer are damaged or depleted. This can lead to the growth of fibrous tissue over the cornea, clouding vision and causing pain, inflammation, and even blindness. Until now, treatments have been limited, often involving complex surgeries or risky immunosuppressant drugs.
However, the new research published in the medical journal The Lancet shows remarkable success with a novel approach using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) — adult cells that have been reprogrammed to behave like embryonic stem cells. Researchers in Japan were able to generate corneal epithelial cell sheets from iPSCs and successfully transplant them into the eyes of four patients with LSCD.
These patients — three men and one woman — ranged in age from 39 to 72. All had been diagnosed with LSCD stemming from various causes, including chemical burns, immune disorders, and a rare skin condition. After undergoing a procedure to remove the clouded corneal tissue, the research team carefully transplanted the lab-grown stem cell-derived corneal cell sheets onto the patients’ eyes.
Remarkably, the transplanted cells were able to successfully integrate and restore the corneal surface in all four patients, with no serious side-effects reported over a two-year follow-up period. Three of the patients experienced significant improvements in visual acuity, corneal clarity, and overall eye health. Even the fourth patient, who had the most severe condition, showed some improvement initially, though this was not sustained long-term.
The researchers hypothesize that the transplanted cells either directly regenerate the corneal epithelium or prompt the patient’s own conjunctival cells to take on a corneal-like function, a process called “conjunctival transdifferentiation.” Further research will still be necessary to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of this vision-saving process.
Source : https://studyfinds.org/stem-cell-surgery-restores-vision