Eyes: Stem and Progenitor Cells in Adults

The ability of some organisms to regenerate their body parts is tremendously captivating. Amphibians possess the highest degree of regeneration as they have the capacity to regrow limbs, tissues, tail, and, in some species, lens and retina too. Even small organisms like crayfish and hydra can replace their amputated limb. During regeneration, terminally differentiated cells may dedifferentiate, that is, lose their characteristics and then differentiate again into a specified type. This is also known as transdifferentiation.

The potential use of stem cells in treating various diseases has caught the attention of many scientists; research on this subject has proliferated and the understanding of stem cells’ potential use is expanding.

The eye has become a popular target to experiment with stem cell regeneration strategies. This organ is immune-privileged; ...