Digital illustration of an eye with glowing vessels and floating stem cells, representing stem cell therapy for diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetes Breakthrough: Can Stem Cells Reverse Retinal Damage?

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness July 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores how adipose stem cells and their paracrine factors offer hope for treating early diabetic retinopathy, potentially preventing vision loss."

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a common complication of diabetes, threatens the vision of millions worldwide. In its early stages, DR is characterized by neurovascular defects that, if left unaddressed, can lead to severe vision impairment and blindness.

Current treatments primarily target the advanced stages of DR, such as diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative DR (PDR), often after significant and irreversible vision loss has already occurred. This creates a critical need for therapies that can intervene earlier in the disease process, halting or reversing its progression before it reaches these advanced stages.

Exciting new research is exploring the potential of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and their paracrine factors to therapeutically rescue early-stage DR features. This article dives into a groundbreaking study that investigates how ASCs, particularly those positive for the pericyte marker CD140b, and their secreted factors can combat the neurovascular defects characteristic of early DR.

Stem Cells to the Rescue: How ASCs Protect the Retina

Digital illustration of an eye with glowing vessels and floating stem cells, representing stem cell therapy for diabetic retinopathy.

The study, published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, focused on using human ASCs to treat early DR in a mouse model (Ins2Akita). Researchers hypothesized that ASCs, known for their regenerative properties, could protect and restore the delicate neurovascular structures of the retina. These cells can be easily obtained, and are considered multi potent, with ability to treat a range of degenerative conditions.

The study used two main approaches:

ASC Transplantation: Direct intravitreal injections of CD140b-positive ASCs into the eyes of the mice.
Paracrine Factor Delivery: Intravitreal injections of conditioned media (ASC-CM) from cytokine-primed ASCs, essentially delivering the healing factors secreted by the cells.

Visual function experiments and detailed histological and molecular analyses were performed to assess the effectiveness of these treatments. The goal was to determine if ASCs or their paracrine factors could mitigate the characteristic features of early DR, such as decreased b-wave amplitudes (a measure of retinal function) and vascular leakage.

A Promising Future for Stem Cell Therapies in Diabetic Retinopathy

This research paves the way for further investigation into stem cell-based therapies for DR. While challenges remain, including optimizing delivery methods and ensuring long-term safety and efficacy, the potential of ASCs and their paracrine factors to prevent vision loss in diabetes is a beacon of hope for millions at risk. As studies continue, we may be on the cusp of a new era in DR treatment, shifting from managing late-stage complications to proactively protecting and restoring retinal health.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1186/s13287-018-1059-y, Alternate LINK

Title: Adipose Stem Cells And Their Paracrine Factors Are Therapeutic For Early Retinal Complications Of Diabetes In The Ins2Akita Mouse

Subject: Cell Biology

Journal: Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Sally L. Elshaer, William Evans, Mickey Pentecost, Raji Lenin, Ramesh Periasamy, Kumar Abhiram Jha, Shanta Alli, Jordy Gentry, Samuel M. Thomas, Nicolas Sohl, Rajashekhar Gangaraju

Published: 2018-11-21

Everything You Need To Know

What is diabetic retinopathy and why is it important?

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes that damages the blood vessels in the retina, potentially leading to vision loss. In its early stages, DR features neurovascular defects which can lead to severe vision impairment. If left untreated it can progress to advanced stages such as diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative DR (PDR), often resulting in irreversible vision loss. This highlights the importance of early intervention to prevent further damage.

What are adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and why are they being investigated?

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are a type of stem cell derived from fat tissue. The research focuses on ASCs because they are known for their regenerative properties and can be easily obtained. The study specifically looks at CD140b-positive ASCs and their paracrine factors. ASCs are considered multipotent and have the ability to treat a range of degenerative conditions. These ASCs and their factors have the potential to protect and restore the delicate neurovascular structures of the retina, which is damaged in early stages of diabetic retinopathy.

What are paracrine factors, and how are they relevant in this context?

Paracrine factors are substances secreted by cells, in this case, by the ASCs. These factors act as messengers, influencing the behavior of other cells in the surrounding environment. In the context of early diabetic retinopathy (DR), these factors from ASCs are being investigated for their potential to protect and repair the damaged neurovascular structures in the retina. The study utilized conditioned media (ASC-CM) from cytokine-primed ASCs to deliver these healing factors.

What approaches did the study use to investigate the effects of stem cells on diabetic retinopathy?

The study used two main approaches: direct intravitreal injections of CD140b-positive ASCs and intravitreal injections of conditioned media (ASC-CM) from cytokine-primed ASCs. The ASC transplantation approach directly introduces ASCs into the eye, allowing them to interact with and repair the damaged retinal tissue. The paracrine factor delivery approach uses the ASC-CM, which contains the healing factors secreted by the ASCs, to achieve similar therapeutic effects. Both approaches were designed to assess the effectiveness of ASCs and their secreted factors in mitigating the effects of early diabetic retinopathy.

What are the potential implications of this research on stem cells for diabetic retinopathy?

The implications of this research are significant. It suggests that therapies using adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and their paracrine factors have the potential to treat early-stage diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is a common cause of vision loss in people with diabetes. This approach could shift the focus of treatment from managing late-stage complications to proactively protecting and restoring retinal health, thereby preventing or delaying the progression of DR. While challenges remain, such as optimizing delivery methods and ensuring long-term safety, this research offers hope for millions at risk of vision loss due to diabetes.