Stem cell-based approaches for glaucoma treatment: a mini review
Yang X., Guo H., Wang S., Lu S., Wang J., Yuan X.
Narrative Review, published in Open Life Sci (2025) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
- Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
- Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
- Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
- Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
- Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.
- Study type
- Narrative Review
- Journal
- Open Life Sci (2025)
- Reported sample size
- —
- Source database
- Europe PMC
- PMID
- 41883386
- PMCID
- PMC13011604
- DOI
- 10.1515/biol-2025-1205
Abstract (original English)
Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, is a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by the apoptotic loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and elevated intraocular pressure. Current intraocular pressure-lowering therapies often fail to halt disease progression, creating an urgent need for neuroprotective and regenerative strategies. Stem cell therapy, leveraging the dual capabilities of differentiation and paracrine signaling, has emerged as a transformative approach for glaucomatous optic neuropathy. This review critically appraises recent advancements in stem cell-based interventions, focusing on three core therapeutic strategies: RGC regeneration, paracrine-mediated neuroprotection, and restoration of trabecular meshwork function for intraocular pressure regulation. We systematically synthesized evidence from preclinical and clinical studies, highlighting the efficacy of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and adult stem cells in promoting retinal repair and neuroprotection. Despite promising results, significant translational challenges persist, including poor graft integration, tumorigenic risks, immune rejection, and the limitations of current animal models. We further discuss emerging technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and 3D bioprinting, which offer potential solutions for personalized and combinator
What this study does not prove
- • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
- • This is a narrative review: it collects no new patient data and does not systematically appraise evidence quality.
Evidence level
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
How we grade evidenceBrowse all related research
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