(File photo)

Scientists are working on a new breakthrough in stem cell research: creating eyes in the laboratory. This week, Britain's Nature magazine published an online paper describing a method of generating eye tissues with human stem cells.

The method, which works by transplanting the stem-cell-generated eye tissue into animals with corneal blindness, is very similar to the actual development process of eyeballs. Scientists hope that the tissue can repair injured eyeballs and help people to recover sight.

Kohji Nishida, professor at Japan's Osaka University, together with his research team, reported the method of generating multiple ocular cell systems with human-induced pluripotent stem cells. This method could produce a self-forming ectoderm autonomous multi-zone (SEAM) structure.

According to the results of the research, corneal epithelial cells can be cultured in the laboratory. When transplanted into the eyes of blind rabbits, these cells were functional, repairing the front of the rabbits' eyeballs and returning their sight.

The author of the paper said the results also have potential for creating cells that treat other parts of the eye. More importantly, they open the possibility of a clinical trial through which blind people may be able to see again.

This article was edited and translated from 《用人类干细胞或能“造出”眼睛》. Source: www.kjrb.com