Progress in Therapies for Retinitis Pigmentosa

Therapies for several forms of degenerative blindness have been under development for some years. Here is news of progress towards trials for two of them:

Two recent experimental treatments - one involving skin-derived induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell grafts, the other gene therapy - have been shown to produce long-term improvement in visual function in mouse models of retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Researchers tested the long-term safety and efficacy of using iPS cell grafts to restore visual function in a mouse model of RP. [The] cells were administered, via injection directly underneath the retina, when the mice were five days old. The iPS cells assimilated into the host retina without disruption, and none of the mice receiving transplants developed tumors over their lifetimes, the researchers reported. The iPS cells were found to express markers specific to retinal pigmented epithelium (the cell layer adjacent to the photoreceptor layer), showing that they had the potential to develop into functional retinal cells. Using electroretinography, a standard method for measuring retinal function, the researchers found that the visual function of the mice improved after treatment and the effect was long lasting.

In the [other] study, the [researchers] tested whether gene therapy could be used to improve photoreceptor survival and neuronal function in mice with RP caused by a mutation to a gene called phosphodiesterase-alpha (Pde6α) - a common form of the disease in humans. To treat the mice, the researchers used adeno-associated viruses (AAV) to ferry correct copies of the gene into the retina. The AAV were administered by a single injection in one eye, with the other eye serving as a control.

When the mice were examined at six months of age (over one-third of the mouse lifespan), photoreceptor cells were found in the treated eyes but not in the untreated eyes, the researchers reported. More important, the treated eyes showed functional visual responses, while the untreated eyes had lost all vision.

Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-12/cumc-tnt122012.php

Comments

i am suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, as this worst disease has snatched my all happiness, i can feel the pain, honestly i want to donate myself for research perpose! i am not worried to think any complication, doctors and scientists can put their trys on me and if they would be able to give successful treatment to millions of people worldwide, that would be my satisfaction!

Posted by: ankit jindal at December 27th, 2012 12:01 PM

Mate I know exactly how you feel, yhe worst things are things others take for granted, driving a car, reading a book, working a normal job, at times it can get so painful and you would do anything for even the slightest chance of a cure, just remember we have the worst condition because we are the strongest people, the only ones who could handle it, I would also be up for any experiment,, but mark my words we will have a cure in our lifetime, whether its thanks to a test on me you or any other saint, we will be cured.

Posted by: Ryan at January 19th, 2013 5:21 AM

I'm already a physically handicap person and also suffered Retinitis Pigmentosa, ''m in a severe problems. Please kindly suggest.

Posted by: Shaikh Gulam Ali at June 29th, 2013 11:30 AM
Comment Submission

Post a comment; thoughtful, considered opinions are valued. New comments can be edited for a few minutes following submission. Comments incorporating ad hominem attacks, advertising, and other forms of inappropriate behavior are likely to be deleted.

Note that there is a comment feed for those who like to keep up with conversations.