Stem cells in the bone marrow can treat eye disease

According to University of Cincinnati researchers, stem cells in bone marrow in adults can help treat genetic diseases in the eye.

Scientists have just completed the study, using mice to show that stem cells in the bone marrow can transfer roles and produce keratocans (keratin), a naturally occurring protein involved in transfusion. development of the cornea - the transparent outer layer of the eyeball.

The ability of marrow cells to distinguish from keratocan-produced cells may provide a way to treat the development of human corneal abnormalities in humans.

Winston Whei-Yanh Kao, Professor of Ophthalmology, and Dr. Hongshan Liu, scientist of the ophthalmology department, presented their discoveries at the annual meeting of the Eye and Vision Research Association held in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., May 9 and 10.

In the laboratory, researchers deliberately created corneal anomalies like the genetic mutations of the eye, then injected the stem cells from the bone marrow into the cornea to see if they changed. Change the mutations.

The study found that after just one week, abnormal corneas of animals that were injected into the sample of bone marrow stem cells began to change shape and heal.We have found that bone marrow stem cells can contribute to the formation of connective tissue, ' Kao said .' If we change the function of non-corneal bone marrow stem cells by introducing them to the cornea of ​​humans, then we can restore the sharpness loss of vision caused by mutations. '

Kao and his colleagues are now planning a clinical trial, Kao said, if the test is successful, this process could help prevent blindness for future generations, those who suffer from these inherited corneal diseases.

He added that corneal transplants have achieved a certain level of success, but that does not always eliminate the problem.'When these implanted cells disappear after a few years, the cornea disease often reappears,' he said, 'however, if we can put bone marrow stem cells inside in the cornea, they will restore the lost function of the mutated gene, and perhaps stem cells can themselves improve and maintain this effective treatment much longer, otherwise want to say forever. '

Danh Phuong