Degenerated Cones in Cultured Human Retinas Can Successfully Be Optogenetically Reactivated.

ABSTRACT: Biblical references aside, restoring vision to the blind has proven to be a major technical challenge. In recent years, considerable advances have been made towards this end, especially when retinal degeneration underlies the vision loss such as occurs with retinitis pigmentosa. Under these conditions, optogenetic therapies are a particularly promising line of inquiry where remaining retinal cells are made into "artificial photoreceptors". However, this strategy is not without its challenges and a model system using human retinal explants would aid its continued development and refinement. Here, we cultured post-mortem human retinas and show that explants remain viable for around 7 days. Within this period, the cones lose their outer segments and thus their light sensitivity but remain ele

SUBMITTER: Kamar S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7014344 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature