Open AccessPluripotent stem cells: A therapeutic source for age-related macular degeneration
Author(s) -
Sowmya Parameswaran,
Subramanian Krishnakumar
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
indian journal of ophthalmology/indian journal of ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1998-3689
pISSN - 0301-4738
DOI - 10.4103/ijo.ijo_1026_15
Subject(s) - macular degeneration , medicine , choroidal neovascularization , lipofuscin , induced pluripotent stem cell , photodynamic therapy , stem cell therapy , atrophy , retinal pigment epithelium , stem cell , retinal , ophthalmology , cell therapy , degeneration (medical) , disease , cancer research , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , chemistry , embryonic stem cell , organic chemistry , mesenchymal stem cell , gene
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) leads to progressive loss of central vision in the elderly. At a cellular level, there is aging of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, and accumulation of lipofuscin that interferes with the proper functioning of RPE which eventually leads to apoptosis. Treatment depends on the stage of the disease. Wet AMD which has neovascularization is managed by local therapies such as laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy and is managed with injections of antivascular endothelial growth factor-based therapy. Unlike the wet AMD, an effective therapy does not exist for dry AMD and geographic atrophy. Cell replacement therapy has shown promise. This review discusses the opportunities in the various types of cell-based therapy, their limitations, and what is possible for India.