Induced pluripotent stem cells for retinal degenerative diseases: a new perspective on the challenges

Abstract

Retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, are the prodominant causes of human blindness in the world; however, these diseases are difficult to treat. Currently, knowledge on the mechanisms of these diseases is still very limited and no radical drugs are available. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are an innovative technology that turns somatic cells into embryonic stem (ES)-like cells with pluripotent potential via the exogenous expression of several key genes. It can be used as an unlimited source for cell differentiation or tissue engineering, either of which is a promising therapy for human degenerative diseases. Induced pluripotent cells are both an unlimited source for retinal regeneration and an expectant tool for pharmaprojects and developmental or disease modelling. In this review, we try to summarize the advancement of iPS-based technologies and the potential utility for retinal degenerative diseases. We also discuss the challenges of using this technology in the retinology field.

Evaluating the potential of poly(beta-amino ester) nanoparticles for reprogramming human fibroblasts to become induced pluripotent stem cells

“…cure to reverse vision loss has led to a heightened interest in regenerative medicine approaches using stem cells as therapeutic agents. 2 Cell transplantation therapy to repair or replace damaged and lost photoreceptors has the potential to effectively treat some forms of retinitis pigmentosa.…”

Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Possibilities of New Treatment Options

“…Moreover, cell fate specifi cation and maturation can be selectively altered via manipulation of endogenous developmental signaling pathways (Rathjen and Rathjen 2003 ;Meyer et al 2009 ) . The ability to differentiate iPS cells in vitro to specifi c lineages effi ciently and reproducibly has been achieved using those described protocols with certain modifi cations (Dimos et al 2008 ;Narazaki et al 2008 ;Tateishi et al 2008 ;Wernig et al 2008 ;Ebert et al 2009 ;Hu and Zhang 2009 ;Jin et al 2009 ;Karumbayaram et al 2009 ;Pfannkuche et al 2009 ;Senju et al 2009 ;Tanaka et al 2009 ;Taura et al 2009b ;Zhang et al 2009b ;Carvajal-Vergara et al 2010 ;Comyn et al 2010 ;Dick et al 2010 ;Gamm and Meyer 2010 ;Huang et al 2010 ;Kaichi et al 2010 ;Lamba et al 2010 ;Lee et al 2010 ;Martinez-Fernandez et al 2010 ;Parameswaran et al 2010 ;Swistowski et al 2010 ;Teramura et al 2010 ;Zhou et al 2010 ) .…”

“…Examples are auditory retinal cells (Jin et al 2009 ;Comyn et al 2010 ;Lamba et al 2010 ;Parameswaran et al 2010 ) , cardiomyocytes (Narazaki et al 2008 ;Pfannkuche et al 2009 ;Tanaka et al 2009 ;Zhang et al 2009b ;CarvajalVergara et al 2010 ;Kaichi et al 2010 ;Martinez-Fernandez et al 2010 ) , insulinsecreting islet-like clusters (Tateishi et al 2008 ) , motor neurons (Dimos et al 2008 ;Ebert et al 2009 ;Hu and Zhang 2009 ;Karumbayaram et al 2009 ) , dopaminergic neurons (Wernig et al 2008 ;Cai et al 2010 ;Swistowski et al 2010 ) , auditory spinal ganglion neurons (Nishimura et al 2009 ) , smooth muscle cells (Taura et al 2009b ;Xie et al 2009 ) , vascular endothelial cells (Taura et al 2009b ) , dendritic cells and macrophages (Senju et al 2009(Senju et al , 2010 , adipocytes (Tashiro et al 2009 ;Taura et al 2009a ) , osteoblasts (Tashiro et al 2009 ) , hematopoietic cells (Hanna et al 2007 ;Eminli et al 2009 ;Kaufman 2009 ;Lu et al 2009 ;Okabe et al 2009 ;Raya et al 2009 ;Kaneko et al 2010 ) , and endothelial progenitor cells (Xu et al 2009 ;Abaci et al 2010 ;…”

New Treatment Modalities by Disease-Specific and Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

“…Moreover, cell fate specifi cation and maturation can be selectively altered via manipulation of endogenous developmental signaling pathways (Rathjen and Rathjen 2003 ;Meyer et al 2009 ) . The ability to differentiate iPS cells in vitro to specifi c lineages effi ciently and reproducibly has been achieved using those described protocols with certain modifi cations (Dimos et al 2008 ;Narazaki et al 2008 ;Tateishi et al 2008 ;Wernig et al 2008 ;Ebert et al 2009 ;Hu and Zhang 2009 ;Jin et al 2009 ;Karumbayaram et al 2009 ;Pfannkuche et al 2009 ;Senju et al 2009 ;Tanaka et al 2009 ;Taura et al 2009b ;Zhang et al 2009b ;Carvajal-Vergara et al 2010 ;Comyn et al 2010 ;Dick et al 2010 ;Gamm and Meyer 2010 ;Huang et al 2010 ;Kaichi et al 2010 ;Lamba et al 2010 ;Lee et al 2010 ;Martinez-Fernandez et al 2010 ;Parameswaran et al 2010 ;Swistowski et al 2010 ;Teramura et al 2010 ;Zhou et al 2010 ) .…”