Long-Term Effects of Adjuvant Intravitreal Treatment with Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Lineage-Negative Cells in Retinitis Pigmentosa

Abstract

Background. Autologous bone marrow-derived lineage-negative (Lin−) cells present antiapoptotic and neuroprotective activity. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of novel autologous Lin− cell therapy during a 12-month follow-up period. Methods. Intravitreal injection of Lin− cells in 30 eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) was performed. The fellow eyes (FEs) were considered control eyes. Functional and morphological eye examinations were performed before and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the injection. Results. Patients whose symptoms started less than 10 years ago gained 14 ± 10 letters, while those with a longer disease duration gained 2.86 ± 8.54 letters compared to baseline at the 12-month follow-up ( p = 0.021 ). There were significantly higher differences in response densities of P 1 -wave amplitudes in the first ring of multifocal ERGs in treated eyes than FE recordings in all follow-up points were detected. Accordingly, the mean deviation in 10-2 static perimetry improved significantly in the treated eyes compared with fellow eyes 12 months after the procedure. The QoL scores improved significantly and lasted until the 9-month visit. Conclusion. Lin− cell-based therapy is safe and effective, especially for a well-selected group of RP patients who still maintained good function of the foveal cones.

Potential therapeutic strategies for photoreceptor degeneration: the path to restore vision

“…In parallel, intravenous administration of UC-MSCs indicated acceptable results with the successful efficiency of around 90% [ 473 , 474 ]. The similar results have been also achieved by BM-MSCs [ 475 – 477 ]. Sub-tenon injection of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PD-MSC) rescued the RGCs and improved the visual acuity [ 478 ].…”

Stem Cell Therapy for Retinal Degeneration: The Evidence to Date

“…Recently, Wiącek et al reported intravitreal transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived lineage-negative (BM lin − ) cells in RP patients with the disease incidence ranging from few years to more than 10 years. 49 A significant improvement in the BCVA and BCDVA (best-corrected distance visual acuity) was reported by the patients at the 12-months follow-up period, and improvement in the visual parameters was more pronounced in patients who had symptoms for less than 10 years and maintained functional foveal cones. The study also reported retinal detachment in three cases, with two cases requiring surgery to achieve complete retinal attachment.…”

“…The study also reported retinal detachment in three cases, with two cases requiring surgery to achieve complete retinal attachment. 49 In two separate clinical trials, Limoli et al transplanted autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) from the stromal vascular fraction of the adipose tissue along with platelets obtained from platelet-rich plasma and adipose stromal cells of the orbital fat in the subscleral space. The study reported an improvement in visual performance with no adverse effects.…”

“… 55 Several clinical trials have reported adverse effects of retinal detachment and vision loss following stem cell transplantations. 56 Transplantation of hESCs, autologous BM-MSCs, resulted in retinal detachment in AMD patients 37 , 38 and glaucoma, 48 and RP patients 49 respectively. Some of them required surgical interventions to facilitate retinal attachment.…”

Different Applications of Stem Cells Therapy for Degenerative Retinal Diseases

“…In a study of Weiss and Levy, authors administrated autologous bone-marrow stem cells to 33 eyes of 17 patients through retrobulbar, subtenons, intravitreal or intravenous injections, observing an improvement of 7.9 Snellen lines in 15 eyes [64]. Wiącek et al performed intravitreal injections of autologous bone marrow stem cells in RP patients with a disease story of a few years or more than 10 years, which resulted in a significative improvement in BCVA and best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) in a 12 months follow-up [65]. In a non-randomized phase I clinical trial involving 14 patients with RP, an intravitreal injection of bone marrow MSCs was performed, aiming to compare the BCVA at 1 and 7 years from the therapy.…”