Hope to treat corneal damage

Scientists at the Schepens Institute of Ophthalmology have discovered that the chemical produces potential reserves of nonspecific cells to convert into primordial cells, a type of cell similar to real stem cells. Retinal cells are produced. The finding, published in the March issue of the Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (IOVS) , gave hope to victims of retinal damage such as retinal degeneration or pigment retinitis.

According to Dr. Dong Feng Chen, a scientist at the Schepens Institute of Ophthalmology and Harvard Medical School, the chief investigator of this work, 'This is a very important project. It is capable of using the same parts of the eye to repair a damaged retina without implanting external retinal tissues or stem cells. If our next step is successful in animals, we believe that medical testing will be conducted quickly. '

Scientists have long known the existence of muller cells (large numbers in the eye) and have assumed they are responsible for protecting retinal cells and keeping them from cracking. . However, in recent years, scientists have said that muller cells sometimes act as primordial cells and rejoin the cell cycle (duplication and division). Original cells are similar to stem cells but are often more complete and limited to the type of cells they will develop into.

Degeneration of macular points with neuralgia due to old age
(Photo: ScienceDaily)

Previously, scientists still did not understand what led to the transition. In his work, Chen and colleagues observed that when injecting natural chemicals such as glutamate and its derivative aminoadipate into the eye, the muller cell began to divide and multiply. Not sure if these chemicals directly signaled the transition, they tested them in the laboratory and on mice.

They placed each of these chemicals in the medium of pure muller cells and injected each into the space under the retina on healthy mice. In both cases, the upper cells become the original cells and then change into retinal cells. Under the action of aminoadipate, newly formed retinal cells move to the necessary places in the retina and become the desired cell type. Specifically, scientists have shown that by injecting chemicals into the retina, cells that receive light stimulation - the type of cell that is lost when humans suffer from central retinal degeneration or retinitis pigment and eventually lead to blindness - enhanced.

The group's next step will be to test this process on nourished animals resulting in diseases like retinal degeneration or pigment retinitis. Their goal is to consider whether damaged retinal cells can regenerate and whether vision can improve. The team may only use each aminoadipate because, unlike glutamate, it can cause retinal damage when used in large doses, aminoadipate is only associated with muller cells and does not cause side effects.

"We believe that a drug made of aminoadipate or similar compounds will potentially heal damaged retinal cells," Chen said .