Four visually impaired patients.
One legendary transplant.
A whole new world.
The Condition - what could cause such impairment?
Limbal stem cell deficiency is a pathologic condition that occurs when the eye's surface cells are damaged and cannot regenerate the surface of the cornea, leading to scarring and ultimately blindness.
Usually, methods associated with vision restoration revolve around organ donation from an external source, however this faces challenges as often the body may reject the transplant donation or, more frequently, there is a lack of donors.
A New Approach
A Lancet study conducted in Japan on stem cells demonstrates a slightly different process than the traditional, and so having a higher success rate. For this, researchers employed induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), which can be reprogrammed into any other cell in the human body. Then, these could be used to create a transparent tissue sheet which can be grafted onto the damaged corneas.
Successfully, there was not a single sign of immune rejection nor tumor, with all four patients describing immediate improvements in vision.
It is also speculated by researchers that the stem cells may have stimulated their own cells to aid repair, another positive step in medicinal improvement.
So, What are the Next Steps in Stem Cell Research?
The use of stem cells in healthcare, and their importance, is increasing exponentially, and there is no doubt that significant breakthroughs will be found regarding the versatility of these incredible structures. Just earlier this year, a study in China found that stem-cell therapy could reverse type 1 diabetes, with one patient freeing herself from insulin injections after two months of the procedure, and remaining without. Another study at Stanford also hints at ways to regenerate old brains by generating within them new neurons.
Again, the never-ending possibility of stem cells remains heavily researched; who knows what the next studies could find...
Perhaps a cure for cancer?
More likely than not.
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