Ocular stem cells: a narrative review of current clinical trials

Int J Ophthalmol. 2022 Sep 18;15(9):1529-1537. doi: 10.18240/ijo.2022.09.17. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells showcasing a remarkable capacity of self-replenishing and differentiating into mature cells. Their ability to proliferate connotes that a designated stem cell source is capable of generating an unrestricted number of mature cells. The ever-increasing comprehension of position, activity, and function of ocular stem cells has led to rapid progress and incessant improvement of possible procedures and therapies. A narrative review was conducted to summarize the current evidence on clinical trials and respective literature, regarding current evolution in the field of ocular regenerative medicine. We tried to ascertain the safety of experimental and clinical procedures, their effectiveness, and the ethical repercussion of their use.

Keywords: cell-based therapies; hESC-derived retinal pigment epithelium; human induced pluripotent stem cells; limbal stem cells; olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cells; stem cells.

Publication types

  • Review