In modern times, there have been cases of vision restored thanks to corneal transplants and cataract surgery. These are amazing treatments themselves, and they have become almost routine in the developed world. But when the cells inside the eye are damaged, there is nothing we can do.
Until now. In an amazing advance, scientists at Advanced Cell Technology reported this week in The Lancet that they used embryonic stem cells to restore partial vision to 2 patients who were legally blind. One patient had macular degeneration, a very common but incurable eye disease, and the second had Stargardt disease. Both diseases are progressive and usually lead to blindness.
Both diseases also affect internal eye cells known as retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. The research team, led by Robert Lanza, took human embryonic stem cells and coaxed them into becoming RPE cells. They tested the RPE cells extensively for any signs of contamination by viruses or bacteria, and once they confirmed that the cell cultures were pure, they injected them into the eyes of these first two patients. (Earlier studies were done in mice and rats before trying the therapy on humans.)
After four months, both patients showed improvements in vision. This is an amazing result for macular degeneration, which has been, until now, irreversible. The cells appeared to "take" in both patients, attaching to other cells in the eye and replacing damaged areas. As Rob Stein and David Brown reported in the Washington Post
"One of them no longer needs a large magnifying glass to read and can reportedly thread a needle. The other has begun to go shopping on her own."According to the study, neither patient has shown any signs of rejecting the cells.
The Lancet study, which you can read here, was funded entirely by private funds due to U.S. government restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.
This is only an early result from a very small study, but coming on the heels of reports just a few months ago, in which adult stem cells restored heart function to patients with advanced heart failure, the promise of stem cells again got just a bit brighter.
So yes, maybe we really can make the blind see again.
I’m not clear on just how blind these two patients were. You say they were “totally blind” and then later, the descriptions of the restored vision indicate that they had some vision.
ReplyDeleteEither way, it’s marvelous, but I’d just like to be clear on the details.
No, I said "legally blind" - read my post again. People who are legally blind usually have some vision, and both of these people did.
DeleteThe result sounds like it may be magnificent. However, I'm suspicious of opposed to improvement in sight as a restore vision to the blind, which is the in the title of the piece.
ReplyDeleteReaders may find the following of interest (from 2009):
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Technology/woman-regains-vision-tooth-implanted-eye/story?id=8595589#.TyYCNYF42So
What a relevant point is the fact that this study has had to be funded with private money. Disregarding all the posible applications of stem cells is a huge mistake. Goverments need to change their mind.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, congratulations, this blog is really interesting.
Regards from Spain (sorry if there is any misspelling)