Stem cells derived from amniotic membrane can benefit retinal diseases when transplanted

Tests on animal models show that MSCs secrete growth factors that suppress causes of diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration

21-Aug-2015 - Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

A team of researchers in South Korea has successfully transplanted mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived from human amniotic membranes of the placenta (AMSCs) into laboratory mice modeled with oxygen-induced retinopathy (a murine model used to mimic eye disease). The treatment aimed at suppressing abnormal angiogenesis which is recognized as the cause of many eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The researchers reported that the AMSCs successfully migrated to the retinas of the test animals and, because of the growth factors secreted by the cells, were able to suppress retinal neovascularization.

The benefit of using MSCs in stem cell therapy is their ability to self-renew and differentiate into a variety of specialized cell types, such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, myocardiocytes, and neuron-like cells.

In addition, it has been shown that MSCs have the ability to modulate the immune response and reduce local inflammation. They can be isolated from a variety of sources, such as adipose tissues, tendons, peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, human placenta, and bone marrow. MSCs isolated from human placenta, however, may be richer in growth factors than those derived from other sources because of their essential role in fetal development, said the researchers.

According to the researchers, AMSCs secrete higher levels of certain growth factors (such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and cytokines) than MSCs derived from other sources, such as fat or bone. The beneficial growth factors secreted by the placenta-derived stem cells included vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), the latter, a well-known natural inhibitor of angiogenesis.

Original publication

Kim, K.-S., Park, J.-M., Kong, T., Kim, C., Bae, S.-h., Kim, H. W., Moon, J.; "Retinal angiogenesis effects of TGF-β1, and paracrine factors secreted from human placental stem cells in response to a pathological environment"; Cell Transplant.; 2015

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/154194/stem-cells-derived-from-amniotic-membrane-can-benefit-retinal-diseases-when-transplanted.html