Retinal Pigment Epithelium Transplantation: Past, Present, and Future

Ayyad Zartasht Khan; Tor Paaske Utheim; Jon Roger Eidet

doi:10.18502/jovr.v17i4.12325

Retinal Pigment Epithelium Transplantation: Past, Present, and Future

J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2022 Nov 29;17(4):574-580. doi: 10.18502/jovr.v17i4.12325. eCollection 2022 Oct-Dec.

Authors

Ayyad Zartasht Khan¹, Tor Paaske Utheim^{2

3

4

5

6}, Jon Roger Eidet⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Kirkeveien 166, Nydalen, Oslo, Norway.
² Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Sognsvannsveien 10, Oslo, Norway.
³ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Kirkeveien 166, Nydalen, Oslo, Norway.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Sørlandet Hospital Arendal, Lundsiden, Kristiansand, Norway.
⁵ Department of Ophthalmology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
⁶ Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital, Kirkeveien 166, Nydalen, Oslo, Norway.

Abstract

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a monolayer of cells situated between photoreceptors and the underlying choroid. It is essential for normal retinal function. Damaged RPE is associated with diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt's macular dystrophy, and retinitis pigmentosa. RPE cells can easily be visualized in vivo, sustainable in vitro, and differentiated from stem cells with a relatively straightforward protocol. Due to these properties and the clinical significance of this epithelium in various retinal diseases, RPE transplantation as a treatment modality has gained considerable interest in the last decade. This paper presents the main techniques for RPE transplantation and discusses recent clinically relevant publications.

Keywords: Regenerative Medicine; Retinal Pigment Epithelium Transplantation; Tissue Engineering.; Vitreoretinal Surgery; Retinal Pigment Epithelium.