Advances in Retinal Disease Treatments Based on Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Methods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2024 | Viewed by 1115

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
Interests: retinal diseases; cell therapy; regenerative medicine; stem cell; cell secretome; medical devices

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Retinal diseases have long posed a significant challenge in the healthcare field, often resulting in irreversible vision loss and a diminished quality of life. However, recent advancements in cell therapy and regenerative medicine have offered a ray of hope for patients affected by these debilitating conditions. Cell therapy approaches, such as stem cell transplantation and retinal tissue engineering, have the potential to replace or repair damaged retinal cells, thereby restoring visual function. Researchers are exploring innovative strategies to promote tissue regeneration, enhance neuronal survival, and stimulate functional recovery within the retina. These cutting-edge techniques show immense promise for treating a range of retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and diabetic retinopathy. Ongoing research and clinical trials in the field of cell therapy and regenerative medicine are paving the way toward a brighter future for individuals grappling with retinal diseases, rekindling hope for sight restoration and improved quality of life.

In light of these remarkable advancements, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest progress made in understanding and addressing retinal diseases. We seek to elucidate their underlying causes and subsequent consequences while exploring the potential of promising therapeutic strategies to halt or mitigate disease progression.

Your invaluable contributions to this Special Issue are eagerly anticipated.

Dr. Girish Kumar Srivastava
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • retinal diseases
  • cell therapy
  • regenerative medicine
  • visual function restoration
  • tissue regeneration
  • neuronal survival
  • promising therapeutic strategies

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

22 pages, 9384 KiB  
Article
Modulation of Extracellular Matrix Composition and Chronic Inflammation with Pirfenidone Promotes Scar Reduction in Retinal Wound Repair
by Laura Jahnke, Virginie Perrenoud, Souska Zandi, Yuebing Li, Federica Maria Conedera and Volker Enzmann
Cells 2024, 13(2), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13020164 - 16 Jan 2024
Viewed by 926
Abstract
Wound repair in the retina is a complex mechanism, and a deeper understanding of it is necessary for the development of effective treatments to slow down or even prevent degenerative processes leading to photoreceptor loss. In this study, we harnessed a laser-induced retinal [...] Read more.
Wound repair in the retina is a complex mechanism, and a deeper understanding of it is necessary for the development of effective treatments to slow down or even prevent degenerative processes leading to photoreceptor loss. In this study, we harnessed a laser-induced retinal degeneration model (532-nm laser photocoagulation with 300 μm spot size, 60 ms duration and 60 mV pulse), enabling a profound molecular elucidation and a comprehensive, prolonged observation of the wound healing sequence in a murine laser-induced degeneration model (C57BL/6J mice, 6–12 weeks) until day 49 post-laser. Our observations included the expression of specific extracellular matrix proteins and myofibroblast activity, along with an analysis of gene expression related to extracellular matrix and adhesion molecules through RNA measurements. Furthermore, the administration of pirfenidone (10 mg/kg via drinking water), an anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic compound, was used to modulate scar formation after laser treatment. Our data revealed upregulated collagen expression in late regenerative phases and sustained inflammation in the damaged tissue. Notably, treatment with pirfenidone was found to mitigate scar tissue formation, effectively downregulating collagen production and diminishing the presence of inflammatory markers. However, it did not lead to the regeneration of the photoreceptor layer. Full article
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