Adult Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Are Capable of Producing Neurocyte or Photoreceptor-Like Cells That Survive in Mouse Eyes After Preinduction With Neonatal Retina

This study provides support for the use of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as a potential source of pluripotent stem cells for treating retinal degeneration. First, this study demonstrated that PBMCs can differentiate into retinal neuron-like cells in vitro and in vivo. Second, some transplanted cells expressed markers for neural progenitors, mature neurons, or photoreceptors at 1, 3, and 6 months after subretinal injection. Finally, this study showed that PBMC transplantation can improve the function of a degenerated retina.

Source: Stem Cells Translational Medicine - October 18, 2016 Category: Stem Cells Authors: Xian, B., Zhang, Y., Peng, Y., Huang, J., Li, W., Wang, W., Zhang, M., Li, K., Zhang, H., Zhao, M., Liu, X., Huang, B. Tags: Adult Stem Cells, Pluripotent Stem Cells, Enabling Technologies for Cell-Based Clinical Translation Source Type: research