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Researchers Link Stem Cells, Diabetic Blindnessdownloadable pdfUF stem cell scientists have prevented blindness in monkeys afflicted with a condition similar to one that robs thousands of diabetic Americans of their eyesight each year. The researchers, led by Edward Scott, director of the Program in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at UF’s College of Medicine, are focusing on a link between a protein known as SDF-1 and retinopathy, a complication of diabetes and the leading cause of blindness in working-age Americans. Diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 cases of blindness each year, according to the American Diabetes Association. When diabetes causes blood vessels in the eye to leak, SDF-1 triggers uncontrolled growth of new vessels, ultimately clogging the eye and damaging the retina. Scientists stopped this destructive growth by using antibodies that block formation SDF-1 in the injured eye that calls stem cells for help. Even though stem cells have the seemingly magical property of being able to transform into any cell of the body, in the closed quarters of the eyeball they wreak havoc, Scott says. “SDF-1 is the main thing that tells blood stem cells where to go,” Scott said. “But the eye is such a unique place, you’ve got this bag of jelly — the vitreous — that just sits there and it fills up with SDF-1. It continues to call the new blood vessels to come that way, causing all the problems.” The researchers injected an SDF-1 antibody directly into the afflicted eyes, disabling SDF-1’s ability to summon stem cells and effectively halting the growth of almost all new blood vessels. Maria Grant, a UF professor of pharmacology and therapeutics, says the researchers envision injecting SDF-1 antibody into the eyeballs of patients. Current treatments use lasers to destroy parts of the retina that are not needed for precise vision. The research was supported by RegenMed, a company founded by Scott and Dennis Steindler, a leading stem cell researcher and director of UF’s McKnight Brain Institute.
Edward Scott, escott@ufl.edu
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