New Scientist
Stem-cell treatment restores sight to blind man
* 16:37 20 May 2013 by _Andy Coghlan_
(http://www.newscientist.com/search?rbauthors=Andy+Coghlan)
An experimental stem-cell treatment has restored the sight of a man
blinded by the degeneration of his retinal cells. The man, who is taking part
in
a trial examining the safety of using human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to
reverse two common causes of blindness, can now see well enough to be
allowed to drive.
People undergoing treatment had reported _modest improvements in vision
earlier in the trial_
(http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21387-blindness-eased-by-historic-stem-cell-treatment.html)
, which began in 2011, but _this
individual has made especially dramatic progress_
(http://www.advancedcell.com/news-and-media/press-releases/act-confirms-clinical-trial-participant-show
ed-improvement-in-vision-from-20-400-to-20-40-following-treatment/index.asp)
. The vision in his affected eye went from 20/400 – essentially blind –
to 20/40, which is considered sighted.
"There's a guy walking around who was blind, but now can see," says Gary
Rabin, chief executive officer of Advanced Cell Technology, the company in
Marlborough, Massachusetts that devised the treatment. "With that sort of
vision, you can have a driver's licence."
In all, the company has so far treated 22 patients who either have dry
_age-related macular degeneration_
(http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23084-lowpower-laser-may-keep-blindness-at-bay.html)
, a common condition that
leaves people with a black hole in the centre of their vision, or Stargardt's
macular dystrophy, an inherited disease that leads to premature blindness.
The company wouldn't tell New Scientist which of the two diseases the
participant with the dramatic improvement has.
In both diseases, people gradually lose retinal pigment epithelial (RPE)
cells. These are essential for vision as they recycle protein and lipid
debris that accumulates on the retina, and supply nutrients and energy to
photoreceptors – the cells that capture light and transmit signals to the
brain.
The company is testing treatments for both conditions by turning hESCs
into fresh RPE cells, then giving each trial participant a transplant of the
cells beneath the retina in one eye.
Although the aim of the trial is primarily to check that the stem cells
are safe, participants have reported improvements in their sight. The company
intends to publish the outcomes in full when all the results are in.
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