Protection of photoreceptor cells from phototoxicity by transplanted retinal pigment epithelial cells expressing different neurotrophic factors.

Transplantation of cells or tissues and the intravitreal injection of neurotrophic factors are two methods that have been used to treat retinal diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of combining both methods: the transplantation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells expressing different neurotrophic factors. The neutrophic factors were Axokine, brain derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).

Natural course of hematoma in lateral rectus muscle followed by magnetic resonance imaging.

We report a patient with a spontaneous intramuscular hematoma in the lateral rectus muscle of the eye that resolved without medication with maintenance of good vision. A 40-year-old woman presented with ocular pain and exophthalmos in her right eye. She had no history of trauma or surgery.

Photoreceptor protection by iris pigment epithelial transplantation transduced with AAV-mediated brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene.

Purpose: To determine whether subretinal transplantation of iris pigment epithelial (IPE) cells transduced with the adeno-associated virus (AAV2)-mediated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene can protect photoreceptors against phototoxicity.

Methods: The BDNF gene was inserted into AAV2 (AAV2-BDNF), and the recombinant AAV2 was transduced into rat IPE (AAV2-BDNF-IPE) cells at various multiplicities of infection (MOI). The concentrations of AAV capsids and BDNF were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Transplantation of transduced retinal pigment epithelium in rats.

Purpose: To examine the effects of transplanting retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells transduced with neurotrophic factor genes into the subretinal space of rats.

Methods: RPE cells were transduced with plasmids carrying the cDNAs of Axokine (ciliary neurotrophic factor [CNTF]; Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.