there could be hope on the horizon for thevisually impaired. recently published research shows the useof embryonic stem cells could help treat people suffering from acquired retina disease.paul yi reports. these are human embryonic stem cells retrievedfrom fertilized eggs. a korea-u.s. joint research team split thesestem cells into retinal pigmented epithelial cells... which are cells that are responsiblefor absorbing scattered light,... and transplanted them into 18 patients with damaged retinas.after three years of observation, the treatment appears to be safe and has restored some sightin 10 patients that had adm, or age-related macular degeneration... vision loss comingwith age.
the research shows dormant visual cells havebecome active due to the newly transplanted stem cells."stargardt disease, which is often an indication in dry amd, result from the loss of the rpecells in the eye. these rpe cells are the neuro cells that maintainthe health of the photoreceptors which are the cones and the rods that we see with."professor lanza says that, while embryonic stem cells have the potential to become anyother cell in the body, the transplantation process is very complicated.but, in this study there were neither immune rejection responses from the patients norwere there any side effects. the treatment has been jointly developed bythe u.s.-based advanced cell technology and
korea′s cha general hospital′s affiliatecha biotech. the team is planning to increase the numberof test patients to 1-hundred by the end of the year.paul yi, arirang news.
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