It is widely believed among scientists that like brain cells, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a cell layer that plays a vital role in eyesight is a nonrenewable resource. In diseases of the retina, including age-related macular degeneration, it is thought that the damage cannot be reversed.

Researchers have found evidence, however that in mice, RPE cells are indeed regenerated in small amounts from bone marrrow stem cells.

"Compared to RPE transplantation, there are a lot of advantages if someone's own bone Marrow could supply the cells, because it's a ready source and the cells would not be rejected by the patient. Further, if bone-marrow progenitors circulating in the blood could be attracted to sites of disease, surgery could be avoided."

Researchers are now trying to discover ways to mobilize an elderly patient's own cells (stem cells in the bone marrow) to travel to the injury site (retina) to make repairs.
More details from University of Florida News.

[Photo: Medem]