Scientists create organics to treat eye diseases

The research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) shows that a team of scientists, led by David M. photoreceptor cells. They are able to connect with other cells of the eye, forming synapses.

In other words, the team was able to create cells that are able to join other cells already in place Eye Human. This makes it possible to treat many eye diseases.

The scientists’ work was submitted to PNAS for editing on August 5, 2022. But it was published earlier this year, on January 4.

organic creation

The title of the paper is “Remodeling of synaptic connectivity in retinal organoid cultures derived from dissociated human stem cells”. In the literal translation: “Synaptic contact rehabilitation in retinal organ cultures derived from dissociated human stem cells”.

The scientists in charge of the research had already conducted a similar experiment in 2014. At that time, by using stem cells, they were able to create organic Able to simulate the function and shape of a real retina.

However, the new difference expertise It was able to accommodate other eye cells that are not part of the organic organ they created.

When they succeeded in creating organoids, Gamm and the other researchers needed to understand whether the group of cells created would be able to make their connection again, should they separate. Or even if they are able to communicate with another group of cells with the same function. If this were possible, a group of photoreceptor cells could rejoin the human retina to restore part of the functions lost by a species. Illness.

For this to happen, it is necessary that the cells created in the laboratory be able to perform union through axons, which are extensions of cells that unite with each other. But, in addition to communication via axons, they need to create their own neural network through synapses. In short, axons are like the wires that connect cells, and synapses are the energy that runs through these “wires”. This energy is the commands or language of the cells.

To test the synapses that were created, the researchers inserted the rabies virus into the process and left it to run for a week. If the experiment is successful, the virus will travel through the cells using the synapses as a conduit for movement.

Finally, as expected by Gamm and colleagues, the virus continued to migrate between cells during the week it was introduced, confirming the success of the experiment.