Insulin-Enhanced Biological Visual Rehabilitation in Neuroretinal Degeneration Patients Treated with Mesenchymal Cell-Derived Secretome

<b>Objectives:</b> Insulin plays a crucial role in neuronal survival and oxidative stress modulation, making it a potential therapeutic target. This study investigates the effects of insulin in combination with a mesenchymal cell-derived secretome in patients with degenerative neuroretin...

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Main Authors: Paolo Giuseppe Limoli, Celeste Limoli, Marcella Nebbioso
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/901
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author Paolo Giuseppe Limoli
Celeste Limoli
Marcella Nebbioso
author_facet Paolo Giuseppe Limoli
Celeste Limoli
Marcella Nebbioso
author_sort Paolo Giuseppe Limoli
collection DOAJ
description <b>Objectives:</b> Insulin plays a crucial role in neuronal survival and oxidative stress modulation, making it a potential therapeutic target. This study investigates the effects of insulin in combination with a mesenchymal cell-derived secretome in patients with degenerative neuroretinal diseases. <b>Methods:</b> Sixty-four patients with severe neuroretinal diseases who had previously undergone the Limoli Retinal Restoration Technique (LRRT) were included in this longitudinal study and divided into groups: group 1 received a single injection of 5 units of insulin lispro into the suprachoroidal space of the worse-seeing eye; group 2 received insulin injection in the better-seeing eye. Retinal function was assessed using microperimetry (MY) before and after treatment (approximately 1 year for eye drops). Group 3 consisted of patients who demonstrated improvement in MY after insulin injection. These patients continued treatment with daily insulin eye drops. <b>Results:</b> In group 1, insulin-treated eyes showed a significant increase in retinal sensitivity from 10.09 dB to 10.75 dB (<i>p</i> = 0.0067), while untreated eyes declined from 12.35 dB to 11.92 dB (<i>p</i> = 0.0448). In group 2, insulin-treated eyes improved from 10.8 dB to 11.63 dB (<i>p</i> = 0.05), whereas untreated eyes exhibited a decline from 8.68 dB to 8.50 dB (<i>p</i> = 0.6771). In group 3, patients using insulin eye drops showed a stabilization or mild increase in retinal sensitivity, from 11.39 dB to 11.73 dB (<i>p</i> = 0.231). <b>Conclusions:</b> The addition of insulin in patients previously treated with the LRRT was associated with improved sensitivity and a stabilizing effect on neuroretinal function.
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spelling doaj-art-54903c8d64b1433fb35b47620e7ef7f12025-08-20T03:56:45ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-07-0117790110.3390/pharmaceutics17070901Insulin-Enhanced Biological Visual Rehabilitation in Neuroretinal Degeneration Patients Treated with Mesenchymal Cell-Derived SecretomePaolo Giuseppe Limoli0Celeste Limoli1Marcella Nebbioso2Low Vision Research Centre of Milan, p.zza Sempione 3, 20145 Milan, ItalyLow Vision Research Centre of Milan, p.zza Sempione 3, 20145 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Sense Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Sapienza University of Rome, P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy<b>Objectives:</b> Insulin plays a crucial role in neuronal survival and oxidative stress modulation, making it a potential therapeutic target. This study investigates the effects of insulin in combination with a mesenchymal cell-derived secretome in patients with degenerative neuroretinal diseases. <b>Methods:</b> Sixty-four patients with severe neuroretinal diseases who had previously undergone the Limoli Retinal Restoration Technique (LRRT) were included in this longitudinal study and divided into groups: group 1 received a single injection of 5 units of insulin lispro into the suprachoroidal space of the worse-seeing eye; group 2 received insulin injection in the better-seeing eye. Retinal function was assessed using microperimetry (MY) before and after treatment (approximately 1 year for eye drops). Group 3 consisted of patients who demonstrated improvement in MY after insulin injection. These patients continued treatment with daily insulin eye drops. <b>Results:</b> In group 1, insulin-treated eyes showed a significant increase in retinal sensitivity from 10.09 dB to 10.75 dB (<i>p</i> = 0.0067), while untreated eyes declined from 12.35 dB to 11.92 dB (<i>p</i> = 0.0448). In group 2, insulin-treated eyes improved from 10.8 dB to 11.63 dB (<i>p</i> = 0.05), whereas untreated eyes exhibited a decline from 8.68 dB to 8.50 dB (<i>p</i> = 0.6771). In group 3, patients using insulin eye drops showed a stabilization or mild increase in retinal sensitivity, from 11.39 dB to 11.73 dB (<i>p</i> = 0.231). <b>Conclusions:</b> The addition of insulin in patients previously treated with the LRRT was associated with improved sensitivity and a stabilizing effect on neuroretinal function.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/901insulin-like growth factor (IGF)Limoli retinal restoration technique (LRRT)insulin lispromicroperimetryneurodegenerative retinal diseasestopical insulin
spellingShingle Paolo Giuseppe Limoli
Celeste Limoli
Marcella Nebbioso
Insulin-Enhanced Biological Visual Rehabilitation in Neuroretinal Degeneration Patients Treated with Mesenchymal Cell-Derived Secretome
Pharmaceutics
insulin-like growth factor (IGF)
Limoli retinal restoration technique (LRRT)
insulin lispro
microperimetry
neurodegenerative retinal diseases
topical insulin
title Insulin-Enhanced Biological Visual Rehabilitation in Neuroretinal Degeneration Patients Treated with Mesenchymal Cell-Derived Secretome
title_full Insulin-Enhanced Biological Visual Rehabilitation in Neuroretinal Degeneration Patients Treated with Mesenchymal Cell-Derived Secretome
title_fullStr Insulin-Enhanced Biological Visual Rehabilitation in Neuroretinal Degeneration Patients Treated with Mesenchymal Cell-Derived Secretome
title_full_unstemmed Insulin-Enhanced Biological Visual Rehabilitation in Neuroretinal Degeneration Patients Treated with Mesenchymal Cell-Derived Secretome
title_short Insulin-Enhanced Biological Visual Rehabilitation in Neuroretinal Degeneration Patients Treated with Mesenchymal Cell-Derived Secretome
title_sort insulin enhanced biological visual rehabilitation in neuroretinal degeneration patients treated with mesenchymal cell derived secretome
topic insulin-like growth factor (IGF)
Limoli retinal restoration technique (LRRT)
insulin lispro
microperimetry
neurodegenerative retinal diseases
topical insulin
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/901
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