Surgical approaches for cell transplantation in cell replacement therapy

Abstract

Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) transplantation holds great promise as a viable treatment option for neurodegenerative diseases. Transplantation of hESCs can replace dysfunctional cells or provide trophic factors to sustain degenerating cells. Ocular conditions, particularly retinal degenerative disorders, are especially suited to hESC transplantation due to ease of accessibility and lack of immunogenicity in the subretinal space. Recently, embryonic stem cell transplantation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been utilized in degenerative retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt's disease, with promising results. This chapter will summarize important surgical approaches to hESC-RPE transplantation for age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt's disease, as well discuss the future directions of cell therapy in degenerative retinal disease.