Stem Cell Transplantation by the American Macular Degeneration Foundation

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0:00 Narrator: (Animation) Photoreceptors or Rods and cones enable us to see in day or night. Retinal Pigment Epithelial or RPE cells nourish the rods and cones. Without healthy RPE cells the photoreceptor cells are damaged or die.

0:19 Masayo Takahashi: Once the photo receptor cells have been lost, only the cell transplantation will cure. But before the photo receptor cells are damaged, we can rescue the photo receptor cells by transplanting the new, healthy retinal pigment epithelial cells.

0:37 Narrator: At the Riken Center for Developmental Biology, in Kobe, Japan, a way has been found to create human photoreceptor cells and RPE cells from human embryonic stem cells. They are working on a way to purify photoreceptor cells because some of these cells can cause tumors. One of the drawbacks to transplantation of cells made from embryonic stem cells is that human recipients will have to take immuno-suppressive drugs because these cells come from another person. In a dramatic development, research is underway to use induced pluri-potent stem cells for the treatment of macular degeneration because these cells would be made from the same person, eliminating the need for immuno-suppressive drugs as well as any religious objections. It is hoped that RPE cell transplantation clinical trials will begin within 3 years. For photo receptor cells it will take a much longer time, hopefully within 10 years.

1:35 Masayo Takahashi: Regenerative medicine is not a dream. At the beginning the effect of the regenerative medicine for retinal diseases will have small effect and then gradually the treatment will be improved and it will be one of the main treatments in the retinal disease, I am sure...

Masayo Takahashi, MD, PhD
Riken Center for Developmental Biology
Lab for Retinal Regeneration

American Macular Degeneration Foundation
P.O. Box 515
Northampton, Massachusetts 01061-0515
413.268.7660
1.888.MACULAR (1.888.622.8527)

Welcome to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation where you can learn about this disease, find valuable resources and help conquer macular degeneration.

Founded on June 1, 1996

Few people are aware that macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease and that it is the leading cause of vision loss for those aged 55 and older in the United States, affecting more than 10 million Americans.

Macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, the inside back layer of the eye that records the images we see and sends them via the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. The retina's central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail.

As people age, their chances for developing eye diseases increase dramatically. Unfortunately, the specific factors that cause macular degeneration are not conclusively known and research into this little-understood disease is limited by insufficient funding.

The American Macular Degeneration Foundation is committed to the prevention and cure of macular degeneration and offers hope and support to those afflicted and their families. The Foundation is a voice in establishing the national research agenda for macular degeneration through promoting an alliance among the scientific community, government, and victims of the disease and their families to ensure the prevention and cure of the disease.

The AMDF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, publicly supported organization.

There are two basic types of macular degeneration: "dry" and "wet." Approximately 85% to 90% of the cases of macular degeneration are the "dry" (atrophic) type. Approximately 10-15% of the cases of macular degeneration are the "wet" (exudative) type.

The AMDF Web site offers many tools to help you better understand and cope with macular degeneration. We encourage you to visit our website, and contact us.

Mission: The American Macular Degeneration Foundation works for the prevention, treatment, and cure of macular degeneration through raising funds, educating the public and supporting scientific research.