Stem Cell Therapy for Treatment of Ocular Disorders.
Sustenance of visual function is the ultimate focus of ophthalmologists. Failure of complete recovery of visual function and complications that follow conventional treatments have shifted search to a new form of therapy using stem cells. Stem cell progenitors play a major role in replenishing degenerated cells despite being present in low quantity and quiescence in our body. Unlike other tissues and cells, regeneration of new optic cells responsible for visual function is rarely observed. Understanding the transcription factors and genes responsible for optic cells development will assist scientists in formulating a strategy to activate and direct stem cells renewal and differentiation. We review the processes of human eye development and address the strategies that have been exploited in an effort to regain visual function in the preclinical and clinical state. The update of clinical findings of patients receiving stem cell treatment is also presented.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Basic Medical Science and Department of Surgical Sciences, Ajman University of Science and Technology-Fujairah Campus, Al Fujairah, UAE.
Padma Priya
PP
Sivan
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Sakinah
S
Syed
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Pooi-Ling
PL
Mok
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Jhong-li, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan; Department of Botany and Microbiology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; Department of Reproduction, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan.
Akon
A
Higuchi
Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India; Department of Zoology, Thiruvalluvar University, Serkkadu, Vellore 632 115, India.
Kadarkarai
K
Murugan
Department of Botany and Microbiology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah A
AA
Alarfaj
Department of Botany and Microbiology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Murugan A
MA
Munusamy
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Rukman
R
Awang Hamat
Department of Reproduction, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan.
Akihiro
A
Umezawa
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Suresh
S
Kumar