Stem cells belong to a subgroup of undifferentiated cells in organisms, which has the features of proliferation, self maintaining, and self renewal, and may produce plentiful filial generation with functions. According to the researches on embryonic stem cells, retinal stem cells in adults, and intraocular tumor stem cells, stems cells exist in human embryo, adult retina, and also intraocular tumors like retinoblastoma and choroidal melanoma. Different stem cells transplanted into subretinal interspace or vitreous cavity may differentiate into structure of neurone or retina. Stem cells may become a newest target of the researches on pathogenesis and treatment of diseases. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 83-86)
Replacement therapy of stem cells transplantation represents a potential treatment for neural retinal diseases. Despite the encouraging results in laboratory, the clinical application of cells replacement therapy is still difficult because the limitation of seed cells, immunologic rejection, oncogenicity and ethical problems, etc. Recent breakthrough in somatic reprogramming provides a promising solution overcoming these obstacles. Further researches on virus free reprogramming will make the clinical application of stem cell replacement therapy possible.