More adult stem cell success

Are they hearing about THIS news in Missouri?!

A revolutionary stem cell treatment developed by British scientists could restore sight in the blind.

In a world first, blindness has been cured by replacing worn out and damaged retinal cells with stem cells.

Experts described the research as “stunning” and said the transplants could transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of Britons who have lost their sight – with the first operations taking place within a decade.

“Experts described the research as ‘stunning,’ and…could transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of Britons.” Folks, this is huge news.

Eye surgeon Dr Robert MacLaren said there are 300,000 people with macular degeneration and the number is going to treble in the next 25 years as people get older. 

“To have something in our pockets that might be a treatment we could offer patients is very exciting,” he said.

The researchers, from University College London and London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital, used stem cells – blank cells with the power to turn into different types of cells – to restore the vision in blind mice.

The cells were injected into the back of the eye where they replaced damaged photoreceptors – tiny light-sensitive cells found in the retina and key to vision.

…Until now there was no way of reversing the damage, with all previous stem cell transplants failing. Central to the success of the technique was the selection of stem cells which were slightly more mature than those tried by other researchers.

These cells both turned into photoreceptors and successfully connected with the nerves leading to the brain.

These “more mature” stem cells were taken from adults, which is exciting, totally moral, hopeful and also proving successful.

While stem cells are often obtained from embryos in the first days of life, it is thought the patient’s own eye could hold a bank of cells suitable for transplant.

Researcher Professor Robin Ali, of University College London’s Institute of Ophthalmology, said: “Recent research has shown that a population of cells found on the margin of the adult retina have stem cell-like properties, in other words, they are capable of self-renewal.

Furthermore…

Using the patient’s own cells would also avoid the possibility of ‘foreign’ cells being rejected by the body.

“We are now confident that this is the avenue to pursue to uncover ways of restoring vision to thousands who have lost their sight.”

The technique could also be adapted to create stem cells capable of repairing the brain cells destroyed in Parkinson’s disease or nerve cells damaged in spinal injuries. (emphasis added, emphasis needed)

Eye experts described the research, funded by the Medical Research Council, as ‘stunning’.

Now, to uncover ways of restoring vision to the untold numbers who have lost their sight of morality, ethics and the sanctity of human life.