TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES USING ENCAPSULATED CELLS ENCODING AND SECRETING A NEUROPROTECTIVE FACTOR AND/OR AN ANTI-ANGIOGENIC FACTOR

摘要

The present application refers to cells, e.g. mesenchymal stem cells or mesenchymal stromal cells, or any further suitable cell, encoding and secreting a neuroprotective factor, an anti-angiogenic factor and/or any other protein or protein-like substance suitable for (intraocular) treatment of eye diseases. Such eye diseases include glaucoma and other optic nerve disorders, retinal diseases, particularly retinitis pigmentosa (RP), age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, etc. The cells used herein are encapsulated in a (spherical) microcapsule, preferably comprising a core and at least one surface layer, to prevent a response of the immune system of the patient to be treated. The present application also refers to the use of these (spherical) microcapsule(s) or such factors for (intraocular) treatment of eye diseases as defined herein (for the preparation of a (pharmaceutical) composition) for the treatment of such eye diseases.