Scientists first lens of the eye restored with stem cells – Sight

American and Chinese molecular biologists have learned to turn stem cells into “blanks” of the lens, and successfully replaced their damaged “lens” in the eyes of a dozen patients with cataracts, according to the article.

“The main goal of all research with stem cells – to learn to use their regenerative potential to repair organs and tissues and cure of congenital diseases. Our success is an example of how we can implement such a repair body using existing cells, “- said Kang Zhang (Kang Zhang) from the University of California at San Diego (USA), RIA” Novosti “with reference to the journal Nature .

Chang and his colleagues were able to achieve similar success by using or not reprogrammed embryonic stem cells, but their so-called “niche” cousins ​​found in small amounts in certain organs of the body, including the eye and its lens.

These cells, like the scientists explain, used by the body to carry out “minor repairs” and the gradual replacement of dying cells. In old age, these cells gradually lose their ability to divide and reduce their activity, which explains why many cataracts and other eye problems develop mainly in older years.

The authors suggested that the population of these cells in the eye lens can be used to grow new “biolinzu” after the old defective hrustallik was surgically removed.

In order to implement this undertaking scientists had to modify the protocol cataract surgery, as it is used today, variations lead to the removal of not only hrustallika, and stem cells. Using his own version of the operation, the scientists removed the damaged lenses in the eyes of a few rats and rabbits, and tried to recover them, stimulating the growth of stem cells.

The experiment was completed very successfully – seven weeks after the operation the lens is fully recovered, and the animals have found a complete vision. The success encouraged the scientists, and they are authorized to conduct clinical trials on a group of 12 babies born with congenital cataract eye.

Three months later, the scientists tell us, all lenses have a dozen babies fully recovered, and the children have acquired normal vision. Now the authors are working on the adaptation of the recovery methods of work with the eyes of elderly people. The successful implementation of this task, according to biologists, will help us to eliminate the main cause of today of vision loss among all the inhabitants of the Earth.