Lens, heal thyself: a significant advance in regenerative ophthalmology
摘要
A few animals, notably Cnidarians, including Hydra and some species of jellyfish, and Planaria possess unlimited regenerative capacity and effectively elude both senescence and biological aging (1). However, humans, and most other vertebrates, exhibit limited regenerative capability for a few tissues that declines with age. Given the isolation of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs), the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and the discovery of many adult stem cell types, the drive to harness these cells to reverse the ravages of disease and age captivates the imagination of the public and medical scientists alike. The enthusiasm for unlocking human regenerative potential for clinical use currently drives both private and public research initiatives, giving hope to millions of sight impaired and blind people. For example, the Audacious Goals Initiative, sponsored by The National Eye Institute of the United States, specifically seeks to fund cross-disciplinary research leading to the restoration of vision through retina regeneration.
