Stem cells for age-related macular degeneration
Unique biological properties of stem cells offer infinite opportunities to use them for numerous degenerative disorders. Thus, in ophthalmology cell replacement therapy is a prospective approach to manage irreversible retinal cell death in age-related macular degeneration. Currently, this disorder is the leading cause of disability, blindness, and reduced quality of life in people aged over 50 in developed countries and is therefore important medical social issue. None of current treatment approaches can either turn back or prevent pre-existing retinal cell degeneration. Therefore, cell replacement therapy and regenerative medicine are promising modalities since they are characterized by much greater prospects than traditional treatment. This paper reviews recent advantages in the treatment for this incurable disorder using various types of stem cells (i.e, mesenchymal, embryonic, and induced pluripotent stem cells). This paper first gives a brief overview of age-related macular degeneration and then describes the methods of retinal cell generation.