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Stem cell‐based treatment in geographic atrophy: promises and pitfalls
Author(s) -
Kvanta Anders,
Grudzinska Monika K.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.12185
Subject(s) - geographic atrophy , atrophy , embryonic stem cell , stem cell , retinal pigment epithelium , macular degeneration , degeneration (medical) , transplantation , retina , retinal degeneration , medicine , regenerative medicine , pathology , neuroscience , biology , ophthalmology , microbiology and biotechnology , surgery , genetics , gene
. Geographic atrophy is a common and untreatable form of advanced age‐related macular degeneration. The degeneration primarily affects the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors of the retina and their restoration by cell transplantation seems attractive. Recently, a patient with geographic atrophy was the first human to receive cells derived from human embryonic stem cells. In this short review, the rationale, potential and obstacles for stem cell‐derived therapy in geographic atrophy are discussed.