Abstract

Photoreceptors (PRs), as the most abundant and light-sensing cells of the neuroretina, are responsible for converting light into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. PR degeneration, including morphological and functional impairment of these cells, causes significant diminution of the retina’s ability to detect light, with consequent loss of vision. Recent findings in ocular regenerative medicine have opened promising avenues to apply neuroprotective therapy, gene therapy, cell replacement therapy, and visual prostheses to the challenge of restoring vision. However, successful visual restoration in the clinical setting requires application of these therapeutic approaches at the appropriate stage of the retinal degeneration. In this review, firstly, we discuss the mechanisms of PR degeneration by focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying cell death. Subsequently, innovations, recent developments, and promising treatments based on the stage of disorder progression are further explored. Then, the challenges to be addressed before implementation of these therapies in clinical practice are considered. Finally, potential solutions to overcome the current limitations of this growing research area are suggested. Overall, the majority of current treatment modalities are still at an early stage of development and require extensive additional studies, both pre-clinical and clinical, before full restoration of visual function in PR degeneration diseases can be realized.

Details

Title
Potential therapeutic strategies for photoreceptor degeneration: the path to restore vision
Author
Karamali, Fereshteh; Behtaj, Sanaz; Babaei-Abraki, Shahnaz; Hadady, Hanieh; Atefi, Atefeh; Savoj, Soraya; Soroushzadeh, Sareh; Najafian, Samaneh; Mohammad Hossein Nasr Esfahani; Klassen, Henry
Pages
1-52
Section
Review
Publication year
2022
Publication date
2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
e-ISSN
14795876
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2755687107
Copyright
© 2022. This work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.