Stem Cell Strategies for Optic Nerve Protection

Abstract

Vision is one of the most important senses for humans. A variety of diseases lead to progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve degeneration, resulting in serious visual impairment. Visual deficits are usually irreversible because of the inability of neuronal cells to regenerate axons. Moreover, the inhibitory properties of the environment at the site of injury may also contribute to regenerative failure. Although current therapies for optic nerve diseases such as glaucoma may succeed in slowing down retinal ganglion cell loss, their effect is often transient and incomplete. New therapeutic approaches are therefore needed. With the ambitious goal of preventing and reversing v..