Human Retina Created in an Artificial Environment

The retina is an organ that plays a crucial role in vision, responsible for the detection of light and the initial steps of processing visual information through nerve tissue. The functioning of the retina is extremely complex and is not yet fully understood. The current knowledge of the scientific community is primarily based on animal experiments, but these results are often not directly applicable to the study of the human retina.

The retina is a sensitive tissue that can quickly become damaged within minutes after being removed from the body if it is not provided with sufficient nutrients and oxygen. Therefore, it poses a challenge for researchers to conduct detailed studies and understand the human retina. However, a significant advancement has recently occurred in this field, creating new opportunities for the research and treatment of vision-related diseases.

Under the leadership of Dr. Botond Roska, the research team at the Basel Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology has achieved significant results. The researchers have been able to artificially create a light-sensitive retinal organoid that corresponds to a healthy adult human retina. This new technology allows for the development of personalized therapies that may become available in the future for patients struggling with vision problems.

Creating the Retinal Organoid

The development of the retinal organoid required several years of research. The research team started from peripheral tissues, such as connective tissue cells and blood, to artificially produce the retina. During the process, differentiated cells derived from the skin or blood of adult donors are reprogrammed back to a stem cell state, and then these cells are grown outside the body.

The creation of organoids enables researchers to produce an unlimited number of tissues with the characteristics of a healthy retina. With this method, scientists can not only better understand the function of the retina but also have the opportunity to investigate various ophthalmic diseases. Additionally, the researchers are examining light perception using electrophysiological methods, contributing to a deeper understanding of retinal function.

By comparing artificially grown retinal organoids with retinal tissues from human organ donors, researchers have been able to observe patterns of gene activity in the cells. This has allowed them to identify certain key cell types that play a role in the development of genetically derived ophthalmic diseases.

Future Possibilities of the Research

The results of the research are of great significance for the future of ophthalmic therapies. Dr. Arnold Szabó, head of the Retina Laboratory at Semmelweis University and a participant in the research, emphasized that the development of personalized therapies is now a realistic goal. The retinal organoids created by the researchers are made from cells derived from patients, thus carrying the characteristics of the patient’s own condition.

This means that the effects of therapeutic procedures can be directly tested on the organoids, enabling more effective and targeted treatments. In the future, researchers may be able to develop new methods for treating various ophthalmic disorders, such as macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa, using artificial retinal organoids.

The research may signify the beginning of a new era in the field of ophthalmology, where personalized medicine takes center stage. The scientific community is continuously working to make the understanding and treatment of diseases as effective as possible, and based on the latest results, the possibilities for future therapies are becoming increasingly widespread.