AMD likely to be more in people with deficient vitamin D status

A multi-institutional team reports that vitamin D may play a significant role in eye health, specifically in the possible prevention of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, among women who are more genetically prone to developing the sight-damaging disease.

In a paper published in JAMA Ophthalmology online, the team found that women who are deficient in vitamin D and have a specific high-risk genotype are 6.7 times more likely to develop AMD than women with sufficient vitamin D status and no high risk genotype.

RetroSense Therapeutics Gets Approval for Clinical Trials in Retinitis Pigmentosa

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RetroSense Therapeutics’ Investigational New Drug (IND) application for gene therapy based clinical trial for their product RST-001 has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration. RetroSense is developing RST-001 for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic condition that leads to the progressive degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors (cells found in the retina that sense light), resulting in severe vision loss and blindness. With its IND now in effect, RetroSense expects to initiate a Phase I/II clinical trial by year-end in order to evaluate the safety and, potentially, efficacy of RST-001.

Amniotic membrane derived stem cell transplants show benefit in retinal diseases

(c) Cell Transplantation

A team of researchers at the CHA University in South Korea has successfully transplanted mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived from human amniotic membranes of the placenta (AMSCs) into laboratory mice modeled with oxygen-induced retinopathy, which is used to simulate many retinal diseases. The treatment aimed at suppressing abnormal angiogenesis (blood vessel growth) which is recognized as the cause of many eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The researchers reported that the AMSCs successfully migrated to the retinas of the test animals and, because of the growth factors secreted by the cells, were able to suppress retinal neovascularization.

UCI-led team begins first clinical trial of stem cell-based retinitis pigmentosa treatment

Participants are being enrolled in the first clinical trial that tests the use of retinal progenitor cells to treat retinitis pigmentosa. The product of stem cell research at UCI’s Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, these retinal progenitors are similar to stem cells in terms of potential regenerative properties, but they’re specific to the retina.