To treat people at risk of blindness… Developing “miniature eyes” in the laboratory

Genetic disease It affects hearing and vision, and is the most common genetic cause For deafness and blindness subscribers.

It affects approximately 3 to 10 out of every 100,000 people worldwide.

Often children born with BUsher syndrome Type 1: They are deaf and their eyesight slowly deteriorates until they become blind as they reach adulthood..

Although ear implants can help with hearing loss, there are currently no treatments for the cause vision loss in Usher syndrome.

The new technique

Scientists have developed "Miniature eyes" in 3D, from stem cells obtained from skin samples donated by patients with the syndrome, at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

in Eye Healthy, light-detecting cells known as rods are located in the back of the eye, in the retina where images are processed.

To elaborate, the study’s first author, Dr. Ye Chuan Leung, of the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health at UCLA, said:

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• "It is difficult to study precise neurons becauseretina It is inaccessible to the patient, because it is intricately connected and located at the back of the eye".
• "Using a small biopsy of the skin, we now have the technology to reprogram the cells into stem cells, then create retinas that have grown in the lab with the same DNA, and therefore the same genetic conditions, as our patients.".
• The miniature eyes developed in this research allow scientists to study individual light-sensitive cells of the human eye, in more detail than ever before..
• It is the first time that researchers have been able to watch the subtle changes in rod cells before they die.
• is being developed "Miniature eyes" From cells donated by patients with the genetic defect that causes Usher syndrome, and others without, allowing the team to compare healthy cells with those that would lead to blindness..
• Understanding these differences can provide clues to eye changes before a child’s vision deteriorates and help lead to early treatment.

What are rod cells?

• rod cells (Rod Cells), are photoreceptor cells in the retina.
• It is called a bacillus because of its long, cylindrical shape.
• These cells operate in lighter lighting conditions than do other photoreceptor cells, such as cone cells.
• They are concentrated at the outer edges of the retina around the center of the retina, and are used for peripheral vision and vision in the dark.

How to help "small eyes" in therapy?

• The team of scientists who participated in the study, believes that future research "It will create miniature eyes from more patient samples, and use them to identify treatments, for example, by testing different drugs".
• It may also be possible to modify the DNA in certain cells, to avoid blindness.

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What is Usher Syndrome?

• Genetic disease It affects hearing and vision, and is the most common genetic cause For deafness and blindness subscribers.
• It affects approximately 3 to 10 out of every 100,000 people worldwide.
• Often children born with BUsher syndrome Type 1: They are deaf and their eyesight slowly deteriorates until they become blind as they reach adulthood..
• Although ear implants can help with hearing loss, there are currently no treatments for the cause vision loss in Usher syndrome.

The new technique

Scientists have developedMiniature eyesin 3D, from stem cells obtained from skin samples donated by patients with the syndrome, at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

in Eye Healthy, light-detecting cells known as rods are located in the back of the eye, in the retina where images are processed.

To elaborate, the study’s first author, Dr. Ye Chuan Leung, of the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health at UCLA, said:

• “It’s hard to study the exact neurons of L.Aretina inaccessible, because it is intricately connected and located at the back of the eye.”.
• “Using a small biopsy of the skin, we now have the technology to reprogram the cells into stem cells, and then create retinas that have grown in the lab with the same DNA, and therefore the same genetic conditions, as our patients.”
• The miniature eyes developed in this research allow scientists to study individual light-sensitive cells of the human eye, in more detail than ever before..
• It is the first time that researchers have been able to watch the subtle changes in rod cells before they die.
• The “mini-eyes” are being developed from cells donated by patients with and without the genetic defect that causes Usher syndrome, allowing the team to compare healthy cells with those that will lead to blindness..
• Understanding these differences can provide clues to eye changes before a child’s vision deteriorates and help lead to early treatment.

What are rod cells?

• rod cells (Rod Cells), are photoreceptor cells in the retina.
• It is called a rod because of its long, cylindrical shape.
• These cells operate in lighter lighting conditions than do other photoreceptor cells, such as cone cells.
• They are concentrated at the outer edges of the retina around the center of the retina, and are used for peripheral vision and vision in the dark.

How does “small eyes” help in treatment?

• The team of scientists involved in the study believes that future research “will create miniature eyes from more patient samples, and use them to identify treatments, for example, by testing different drugs.”.
• It may also be possible to modify the DNA in certain cells, to avoid blindness.