Intravitreal stem cell paracrine properties as a potential neuroprotective therapy for retinal photoreceptor neurodegenerative diseases

Retinal degenerations are the leading causes of irreversible visual loss worldwide. Many pathologies included under this umbrella involve progressive degeneration and ultimate loss of the photoreceptor cells, with age-related macular degeneration and inherited and ischemic retinal diseases the most relevant. These diseases greatly impact patients' daily lives, with accompanying marked social and economic consequences. However, the currently available treatments only delay the onset or slow progression of visual impairment, and there are no cures for these photoreceptor diseases. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are being investigated, such as gene therapy, optogenetics, cell replacement, or cell-based neuroprotection. Specifically, stem cells can secrete neurotrophic, immunomodulatory, and anti-angiogenic factors that potentially protect and preserve retinal cells from neurodegeneration. Further, neuroprotection can be used in different types of retinal degenerative diseases and at different disease stages, unlike other potential therapies. This review summarizes stem cell-based paracrine neuroprotective strategies for photoreceptor degeneration, which are under study in clinical trials, and the latest preclinical studies. Effective retinal neuroprotection could be the next frontier in photoreceptor diseases, and the development of novel neuroprotective strategies will address the unmet therapeutic needs.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in retinal and optic nerve diseases: An update of clinical trials

Retinal and optic nerve diseases are degenerative ocular pathologies which lead to irreversible visual loss. Since the advanced therapies availability, cell-based therapies offer a new all-encompassing approach. Advances in the knowledge of neuroprotection, immunomodulation and regenerative properties of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) have been obtained by several preclinical studies of various neurodegenerative diseases. It has provided the opportunity to perform the translation of this knowledge to prospective treatment approaches for clinical practice. Since 2008, several first steps projecting new treatment approaches, have been taken regarding the use of cell therapy in patients with neurodegenerative pathologies of optic nerve and retina. Most of the clinical trials using MSCs are in Ⅰ/Ⅱ phase, recruiting patients or ongoing, and they have as main objective the safety assessment of MSCs using various routes of administration. However, it is important to recognize that, there is still a long way to go to reach clinical trials phase Ⅲ-Ⅳ. Hence, it is necessary to continue preclinical and clinical studies to improve this new therapeutic tool. This paper reviews the latest progress of MSCs in human clinical trials for retinal and optic nerve diseases.

Neuroprotective therapy for retinal neurodegenerative diseases by stem cell secretome

Retinal neurodegenerative diseases like agerelated macular degeneration,glaucoma,diabetic retinopathy or retinitis pigmentosa are the most frequent causes of incurable low vision and blindness worldwide.It had been estimated that the prevalence of these diseases varies between 1/750 and 1/5000 depending on the region,the level of consanguinity or ethnicity(Na et al.,2017).The functional and structural complexity of the retina makes it susceptible to multiple types of pathogenic damage.

Ocular findings in Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats emphasize the key role of neuroglia degeneration in diabetic retinopathy pathophysiology

Diabetes mellitus is a leading cause of acquired vision loss and one of the world＇s fastest growing chronic diseases. Diabetic retinopathy （DR）, a specific complication of chronic hyperglycemia, is the leading cause of acquired vision loss worldwide in middle-aged and there- fore economically active people that also increases the medical and economic burden on the society （Klein, 2007）.

Renal function and choroidal thickness using swept-source optical coherence tomography in diabetic patients

AIM: To assess the relationship between choroidal thickness and renal function in diabetic patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional retrospective clinical study of 42 eyes of 21 ocular treatment-na?ve diabetic patients. Demographic data included: age, sex, type and course of diabetes. Ocular data included: severity of diabetic retinopathy;retinal thickness at the central macular region, as well as choroidal thickness at the central and paracentral quadrants, using automatically generated maps by swept-source optical coherence tomography;presence of cystic macular edema;and ocular axial length(AXL). Lab-test parameters included: glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c), albuminuria, albumin/creatinine ratio in urine, and glomerular filtration rate. RESULTS: A significant negative correlation was mainly observed between several choroidal thicknesses, age(P<0.020) and ocular AXL(P<0.030). On the contrary, a significant positive correlation was found between all choroidal thicknesses, HbA1 c(P<0.035) and albuminuria(P<0.040). CONCLUSION: Choroidal thickness can represent an additional tool to help clinicians predicting the renal status in ocular treatment-na?ve diabetic patients.