Strategies for retinal repair: cell replacement and regeneration.
The retina, like most other regions of the central nervous system, is subject to degeneration from both genetic and acquired causes. Once the photoreceptors or inner retinal neurons have degenerated, they are not spontaneously replaced in mammals. In this review, we provide an overview of retinal development and regeneration with emphasis on endogenous repair and replacement seen in lower vertebrates and recent work on induced mammalian retinal regeneration from Müller glia. Additionally, recent studies demonstrating the potential for cellular replacement using postmitotic photoreceptors and embryonic stem cells are also reviewed.
Lamba
Deepak A
DA
Department of Biological Structure, Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
Karl
Mike O
MO
Reh
Thomas A
TA
D000818:Animals; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000601:surgery*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*