KOREAN FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS

[신문기사] 망막질환 줄기세포 치료법 개발
우리아들	2011/06/20	1,275
망막색소상피세포에 대한 치료법입니다. 저희 환우에게 필요한 광수용체에 대한 것은 아니나, 기사에서는 망막색소상피가 광수용체를 지원하는 중요한 세포라고 되어 있네요. 영문기사 중에는 비타민 B-6가 망막색소상피세포를 치료하는데 도움이 됐다고 되어 있습니다. 그리고, 이런 기사가 도움이 되는지 코멘트도 부탁드립니다. 저희 환우에게 도움이 되지 않는 것이면 알려주시면 안 올리려구요. 제가 아직 초보 환우도우미인지라;;; (연합뉴스 기사입니다. 원문을 링크해 드립니다.) http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/Basic/article/new_search/YIBW_showSearchArticle.aspx?searchpart=article&searchtext=%eb%a7%9d%eb%a7%89&contents_id=AKR20110620038000009 (서울=연합뉴스) 한성간 기자 = 실명에 이를 수 있는 망막질환인 황반변성, 색소성망막염 등의 치료법으로 이어질 수 있는 새로운 치료법이 개발됐다고 사이언스 데일리가 18일 보도했다. 미국 인디애나-퍼듀 대학의 제이슨 마이어(Jason Meyer) 박사는 희귀한 유전성 망막질환인 망막위축(gyrate atrophy) 환자의 피부세포를 역분화시켜 만든 유도만능줄기세포(iPS)에서 이 병을 유발한 유전적 결함을 바로잡은 뒤 건강한 망막색소상피(RPE)세포로 분화시키는 데 성공했다고 밝혔다. 망막색소상피세포는 망막에 나타난 영상 메시지를 담당 뇌 부위로 전달하는 광수용체 세포의 생존에 중요한 기능을 수행하는데 망막위축 환자는 이 세포가 손상되어 있다. 마이어 박사는 유도만능줄기세포 상태에서 문제의 유전자결함을 바로잡은 뒤 이를 정상적인 망막색소상피세포로 분화하도록 유도하는 데 성공했으며 분화된 세포는 정상적인 기능을 발휘하는 것으로 확인되었다고 말했다. 이 새로운 기술은 망막위축만이 아니라 황반변성, 색소성 망막염 같은 더 흔한 망막질환에 의해 손상되거나 소실된 망막세포를 대체하는 데 이용될 수 있다고 마이어 박사는 말했다. 이 연구결과는 '줄기세포(Stem Cell)' 최신호에 발표되었다. ------------------------------------------------- Progress Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Reverse Blindness enlarge Human-induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be directed to develop into light-sensing photoreceptor cells of the retina. It is hoped that these cells can be used to better understand and treat human disease affecting the visual system. (Credit: Jason Meyer, Ph.D., School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis)ScienceDaily (June 18, 2011) — Researchers have used cutting-edge stem cell technology to correct a genetic defect present in a rare blinding disorder, another step on a promising path that may one day lead to therapies to reverse blindness caused by common retinal diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa which affect millions of individuals. In a study appearing in an advance online publication of the journal Stem Cells on June 15, 2011, investigators used recently developed technology to generate induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from a human patient with an uncommon inherited eye disease known as gyrate atrophy. This disorder affects retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, the cells critical to the support of the retina's photoreceptor cells, which function in the transmission of messages from the retina to parts of the brain that interpret images. "When we generate iPS cells, correct the gene defect that is responsible for this disease, and guide these stem cells to become RPE cells, these RPE cells functioned normally. This is exciting because it demonstrates we can fix something that is out of order. It also supports our belief that in the future, one might be able to use this approach for replacement of cells lost or malfunctioning due to other more common diseases of the retina," said lead study author cell biologist Jason Meyer, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology in the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness, affecting an estimated 25-30 million people worldwide. One and a half million people worldwide are affected by retinitis pigmentosa. Because iPS cells can be derived from the specific patient who needs them, use of these cells may avoid the problem of transplant rejection. In the study, vitamin B-6 also was used to treat the damaged RPE cells producing healthy cells that functioned normally. The retina is a relatively easily accessible part of the central nervous system, which makes it an attractive target for correction with iPS cells. Researchers are hopeful that once the gene defect responsible for a blinding disorder is corrected in iPS cells, these cells may be able to restore vision. In addition to Meyer of the School of Science at IUPUI, "Optic Vesicle-like Structures Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Facilitate a Customized Approach to Retinal Disease Treatment" is co-authored by Sara E. Howden, Kyle A. Wallace, Amelia D. Verhoeven, Lynda S. Wright, Elizabeth E. Capowski, Jessica M. Martin, Shulan Tian, Ron Stewart, Bikash Pattnaik, James Thomson and David M. Gamm, all of the University of Wisconsin; and Isabel Pinilla of Blesa University Hospital and the Instituto Aragones de Ciencias de la Salud in Spain. Meyer is also a primary investigator with the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute at Indiana University School of Medicine. Thomson is also associated with the University of California -- Santa Barbara.