Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells to Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells: An Approach Toward Retinal Degenerative Diseases Treatment

Pluripotent stem cells as the cells with a capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into various specific cell types have been highly regarded in regenerative medicine studies. To repair the eye disease damages, the differentiation into retinal pigment epithelial cells of pluripotent stem cells has gained great importance in recent decades because the inappropriate function of these cells is the main cause of degenerative diseases such as the age-related macular degeneration. Millions of people in the world suffer this disease. To restore the damaged cells and, finally, to improve the vision, numerous studies have been conducted on using pluripotent stem cells, their differentiation into retinal pigment epithelial cells, and finally, their application in cell therapy. Based on this, many researchers have attempted to produce highly efficient retinal pigment epithelial cells, such that they show a proper function after transplant, along with the host cells. In this review article, the importance and the role of pigment epithelial cells, as well as, the studies on the in vitro production of these cells were examined.