ABSTRACT
Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degradation is central to the onset and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a growing and currently incurable form of blindness.
Due to its key role in maintaining the retinal structure and homeostasis, cell replacement of the RPE monolayer has emerged as a promising therapy to rescue visual acuity in AMD patients.
Thanks to the tremendous progress of pluripotent stem cell technologies over the last decade, a potentially unlimited new source for RPE transplantation has reached clinical trials. This review summarizes the methods by which pluripotent stem cell-based RPE cells are produced for transplantation, the delivery methods currently being adopted and the latest clinical outcomes with regard to the treatment of AMD.
Declaration of interest statement
The authors report no conflict of interest.