Breakthrough Bone Marrow Stem Cell Research Combating Genetically Caused Vision Defects
A study has shown that stem cells can be synthesised from adult bone marrow which may well assist in curing blindness, or other specific genetically caused eye diseases. Scientists completed a test on mice which proved that their own bone marrow can play a role in the production of keratocan, which is an essential protein in the growth of the outer layer of the eyeball. This is other known as the corneal, these keratocan producing cells can treat corneal abnormalities in people.
The test consisted of an injection of stem cells from a sample of bone marrow within the interior of the corneas, where the keratocan was first manipulated to act upon the abnormal genetic eye mutations. Conducted on animal models, each with a cornea disability or abnormality, after a single week, changes started to show. The irregularities of the corneas shape began to change and heal. Professor of ophthalmology, Whinston Whei-Yang Kao, believes that changing the stem cells function from bone marrow production, and introducing them into a new environment such as the human corneas, the growth and repair of symptoms such as poor sight and visual sharpness due to mutations could possibly occur.
Whole cornea transplants are effective, to some degree, elimination of the problem still exists even after the operation. As time passes, the implanted donor cells start to degrade and often results in the re-introduction of the corneal disease. However with stem cell treatments, the cornea is totally remapped, deleting the lost functioning mutating gene therefore resulting in a more sustainable treatment.
The team that conducted these tests seem optimistic clinical tests are next on their agenda, if the trial succeeds and results in commercialisation, future generations who suffer or show signs of genetically caused eye diseases will have easier access to preventing and treating the problem.
“Bone Marrow Stem Cells May Cure Eye Disease” - http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070510160859.htm
Written By: Dorian Mach 41744259
