Management of Retinitis Pigmentosa by Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Wharton's Jelly Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Phase 3

Completed

• Conditions: Inherited Retinal Dystrophy; Retinitis Pigmentosa
• Interventions: Biological: Wharton's jelly derived mesenchymal stem cell

• Registration Number: NCT04224207
• Lead Sponsor: Ankara Universitesi Teknokent

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to determine if umbilical cord Wharton's jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells implanted in sub-tenon space have beneficial effects on visual functions in retinitis pigmentosa patients by reactivating the degenerated photoreceptors in dormant phase.

Detailed Description

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) forms the outer blood-retinal barrier between photoreceptor cells and choroidal blood vessels. Photoreceptor cells are vitally and functionally dependent on the RPE. The conversion of blood glucose to ATP, synthesis of proteins in the visual cycle and removal of metabolic waste takes place in the RPE. For these important processes, various peptide growth factors and their receptors are synthesized in the RPE. More than 260 genes in the RPE are responsible for the production of these peptide fragments. Mutations in any of these genes as well as ischemic, physical or chemical RPE damage causes retinal degeneration. Retinal degeneration may be inherited, such as in retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Stargardt's disease, choroideremia, Best vitelliform dystrophy and Bietti's crystalline dystrophy. Retinal degeneration may also be acquired through genetic mechanisms, such as age-releated macular degeneration. In retinal degeneration, there is a developing loss of RPE and photoreceptors, regardless of the underlying cause.

Umbilical cord Wharton's jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) have significant paracrine and immunomodulatory properties. WJ-MSCs secrete trophic factors that stimulate RPE or secrete trophic factors that are similar to those produced by RPE. In studies using animal models, WJ-MSCs have been found to be effective in stopping the progression of retinal degeneration and for rescuing photoreceptors in the dormant phase. WJ-MSCs are hypoimmunogenic and have significant immunomodulatory properties. WJ-MSCs have been shown to suppress chronic inflammation and prevent apoptosis in animal models of neurodegenerative and ischemic retinal disorders. WJ-MSCs also stimulate progenitor cells in the retina and elicit self-repair mechanisms.

The aim of this preliminary clinical study is to investigate the efficacy of deep sub-tenon injected WJ-MSCs as a stem cell treatment modality for the management of retinitis pigmentosa, which creates outer retinal degeneration. These functional and structural effects were investigated using microperimetry, electrophysiology and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first prospective clinical study that utilizes a large number of RP cases, and cases that are in phase-3.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-04-01
• Primary Completion: 2019-10-30
• Status Verified: 2020-01
• Study Completion: 2020-01-01
• Study First Submitted: 2020-01-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-01-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-01-08
• Study First Posted: 2020-01-13
• Last Update Posted: 2020-01-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 32

Inclusion Criteria

• • 18 years of age or older;

  • Diagnosis of any phenotypic or genotypic variation of RP, confirmed by clinical history, fundus appearance, visual field (VF), electroretinogram (ERG) and genetic mutation analysis;
  • Having experienced various degrees of VF loss;
  • BCVA from 50 letters to 110 letters in the ETDRS chart testing (Topcon CC-100 XP, Japan);
  • Mean deviation (MD) values ranging between -33.0 and -5.0 dB with Compass visual field analysis (threshold 24-2, Sita Standard, Stimulus 3-white);
  • Intraocular pressure (IOP) of <22 mmHg.

Exclusion Criteria

• • The presence of cataracts or other media opacity that might affect the VF, MD, or ERG recordings;

  • The presence of glaucoma, which causes visual field and optic disc changes;
  • The presence of any systemic disorder (e.g.,diabetes, neurological disease, or uncontrolled systemic hypertension) that may affect visual function;
  • The habit of smoking.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SEQUENTIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Before application	Wharton's jelly derived mesenchymal stem cell	RP patients with progressive visual acuity and visual field loss: before stem cell application.
After application	Wharton's jelly derived mesenchymal stem cell	RP patients, after stem cell applications.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
ETDRS visual acuity	Change from baseline visual acuity at 6 months	The visual acuity scores obtained from the baseline testing and the final examination were analyzed and compared statistically to determine effectiveness.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Outer retinal thickness	Change from baseline outer retinal thickness at 6 months	This is the thickness from the outer plexiform layer to the Bruch membrane in the 3x3 mm area of the fovea measured (and recorded automatically) by the multimodal imaging OCTA device.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Umut Arslan; 🇹🇷 Ankara, Türkiye, Turkey

Ankara University Biotechnology Institute; 🇹🇷 Ankara, Türkiye, Turkey