Poster Presentation ASSCR, AGCTS, ISCT ANZ and Friends Joint Scientific Conference 2019

Progressing human lens regeneration via lens cell transplantation as an improved childhood cataract treatment (#115)

Rachel Shparberg 1 , David G Harman 1 , Timothy Stait-Gardner 2 , Tosin Famakinwa 3 , Stephanie Watson 4 , Michael O'Connor 1 5
  1. School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
  2. Nanoscale Organisation and Dynamics, School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Computing Construction and Engineering, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. The University of Sydney, Save Sight Institute, Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  5. Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Cataracts cause interrupted light transmission through the ocular lens, and as such are a leading cause of low vision and blindness in children worldwide. Surgical removal of childhood cataract often leads to suboptimal visual outcomes – due in part to the loss of focussing ability at key stages of a child’s motor, educational and social development. As a result, childhood cataract patients self-report similar quality of life to childhood cancer patients. Our research aims to regenerate lenses – via transplantation of stem cell-derived lens epithelial cells – to improve childhood cataract treatment. To do this we have developed complementary lens cell transplantation models, using live rabbits and ex vivo bovine lenses. Preliminary in vivo data shows that: i) lens material grows in rabbit capsular bags after transplantation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived lens epithelial cells; and ii) human-specific lens crystallin protein sequences can be detected 3 months after transplantation. To further optimise the lens cell transplantation surgery, we have created a 3D-printed bovine lens holder that enables lens cell transplantation into bovine lens capsular bags. Together, these complementary in vivo and in vitro lens regeneration models are progressing development of lens cell transplantation as an improved treatment for childhood cataract.

  • Have you presented your abstract at another international meeting?: No