Stem Cells Flashcards
What are pluripotent stem cells?
Stem cells that are in a clean state and able to be differentiated into virtually any cell type
They can also be easily replicated
What are the sources for pluripotent stem cells?
They can be induced from already differentiated cells or they can be taken from embryos
How are induced pluripotent stem cells generated?
A small sample of blood are skin is taken from a patient and genetically tweaked to revert back to a stem cell and then coaxed to become a new cell type
What are other types of stem cells?
Adult stem cells: found in mature tissues and organs and can only become limited types of cells; they are used in the body’s own repair and replenishment mechanisms
Because adult stem cells can become limited cell types, there is less of a chance that they will become tumorigenic
Progenitors: a stem cell that has almost become target cell type so the fate has already been determined; this offers less replicability
What are some applications for stem cells in the eye?
They can replace cells (photoreceptors, RPE, both) lost to retinal disease
They can preserve a patient’s remaining cells (neuroprotection)
They can model disease and help screen for therapies, like the 3D retinal organoids
What are some challenges with stem cell therapy in the eyes?
- transplantation and orientation
- survival and integration
- scaffold more often used
- minimize immune response (allogenic vs. autologous)
What is the macular region?
a highly cone-concentrated area in the center of the retina
What is the difference between rods and cones in terms of the vision provided?
Cones: central vision, the ability to read and recognize faces, color vision, and vision in lighted settings
Rods: vision in dim settings and peripheral vision
What is Bruch’s membrane?
An important barrier in the retina to help with trafficking nutrition and waste into and out of the membrane; it deteriorates in people with AMD
