Retinal Pigment Epithelium, or RPE, forms the outer barrier of the retina and supporting the function of cells that receive light. Most of retina diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, cause damage to the RPE. It has been long believed that once RPE is damaged, it cannot be renewed. But scientists have found evidence that the body naturally replenishes small amounts of cells in the eye essential for healthy vision. This finding can be use to further develop ways to accelerate
natural healing processes to treat sight-robbing injuries or diseases.
The researchers believe it may be possible to also grow new cells in the retina to replace cells lost to injury or disease. RPE can be damaged as we grow older, with smoking and diet as considered factors. The primary cells for vision, known as the rods and cones will die once RPE is damaged. The solution is to regenerate the RPE, and scientists have found this possible by transplanting bone marrow cells from normal male mice into albino females with two different types of acute RPE injury. Bone marrow has stem cells capable of homing in on injuries and possibly regenerating other cell types in the body. This could lead to using a person's own bone marrow to replenish his or her RPE, instead of conducting
RPE transplant.
