Cellular models and therapies for age-related macular degeneration

TitleCellular models and therapies for age-related macular degeneration
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsForest DL, Johnson LV, Clegg DO
JournalDisease Models & Mechanisms
Volume8
Issue5
Pagination421-7
Date Published2015 May
ISSN1754-8411
Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex neurodegenerative visual disorder that causes profound physical and psychosocial effects. Visual impairment in AMD is caused by the loss of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells and the light-sensitive photoreceptor cells that they support. There is currently no effective treatment for the most common form of this disease (dry AMD). A new approach to treating AMD involves the transplantation of RPE cells derived from either human embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells. Multiple clinical trials are being initiated using a variety of cell therapies. Although many animal models are available for AMD research, most do not recapitulate all aspects of the disease, hampering progress. However, the use of cultured RPE cells in AMD research is well established and, indeed, some of the more recently described RPE-based models show promise for investigating the molecular mechanisms of AMD and for screening drug candidates. Here, we discuss innovative cell-culture models of AMD and emerging stem-cell-based therapies for the treatment of this vision-robbing disease.

DOI10.1242/dmm.017236
Alternate JournalDis Model Mech
PubMed ID26035859
PubMed Central IDPMC4415892