THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF STEM CELLS IN OCULAR TISSUE REGENERATION

Abstract

Degenerative eye diseases represent a significant challenge to global visual health, impacting on the quality of life of those affected. This summary reviews scientific evidence exploring the therapeutic potential of stem cells in the regeneration of ocular tissues. To carry out the integrative review on the therapeutic potential of stem cells in the regeneration of ocular tissues, a systematic search was conducted in scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus and Scielo. The inclusion criteria were studies published between 2014 and 2024, addressing relevant advances in the field. The descriptors used included induced pluripotent stem cells, stem cell transplantation, cell differentiation, visual acuity, regenerative medicine. The initial selection resulted in a list of potential articles, which were assessed for their relevance to the proposed topic. In this way, we sought to cover a wide range of therapeutic approaches, from bioengineering to the clinical application of stem cells in ophthalmology. The studies addressed various therapeutic fronts, from the creation of bioengineered retinal pigment epithelium monolayers for dry macular degeneration to the characterization and transplantation of photoreceptors isolated from retinal organoids. Mandai et al. (2017) brought promising prospects by using autologous induced stem cells for macular degeneration, while Garber (2015) highlighted ethical challenges in conducting clinical trials. Ben M'Barek et al. (2016) proposed a stem cell-based therapy for retinal diseases, and Gagliardi et al. (2018) presented the characterization of CD73-positive photoreceptors. Safety was addressed by Satarian et al. (2017) in a study of intravitreal injection of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Song et al. (2015) provided preliminary results on the treatment of macular degeneration with retinal pigment epithelium cells derived from embryonic stem cells. The results highlight promising advances in ocular stem cell therapy, indicating potential for ocular tissue regeneration. However, ethical and practical challenges must be considered during the clinical translation of these innovative therapies. This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research in this dynamic field, emphasizing the continued importance of these studies for advancing therapeutic options in ophthalmology.