Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and composition for use in the treatment of retinal degeneration, in particular retinal degeneration due to retinal pigment epithelium dysfunction.

Abstract: The present invention is a visual prosthesis which restores partial vision to patients blinded by outer retinal degeneration. While visual prosthesis users have achieved remarkable visual improvement to the point of reading letters and short sentences, the reading process is still fairly cumbersome. In the present invention the visual prosthesis is adapted to stimulate visual braille as a sensory substitution for reading written letters and words. The visual prosthesis system, used in the present invention, includes a 10×6 electrode array implanted epiretinally, a tiny video camera mounted on a pair of glasses, and a wearable computer that processes the video and determines the stimulation current of each electrode in real time.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds which activate the BASIGIN signalling pathway, preferably agonists of BASIGIN, for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Abstract: A device for displaying an image sequence in the form of a pixel matrix, includes a control unit coupled to a projector. The control unit includes an input interface designed to receive asynchronous information representing, for each pixel of the matrix, events concerning the pixel, and a processor designed to control the activation of each pixel of the matrix at moments determined by the respective events indicated by the asynchronous information for the pixel. The projector is disposed on a support so as to illuminate the light receptors of the eye when the device is in use and is designed to project a light flux corresponding to the pixels activated by the control unit.

Abstract: A method of controlling the display of images in the form of a pixel array, includes for a pixel of the array, asynchronous information representing events concerning the pixel is received, a first activation of the pixel is actuated at an activation time determined by a first event of the asynchronous information, and at least a second activation of the pixel is actuated in order to repeat the first activation of the pixel at respective times defined by a refresh sequence.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for expressing a polynucleotide of interest in the retina of a subject. In particular, a method for expressing a polynucleotide of interest in the retina of a subject comprising the step consisting of injecting into the vitreous an amount of a vector containing the polynucleotide of interest in combination with an amount of an inhibitor of Dp71 expression is provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a compound selected in the group comprising (i) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected in the group comprising the amino acid sequence of the long isoform in Homo sapiens of the RdCVF2 gene (SEQ ID NO:10), orthologs, derivatives and fragments thereof, (ii) a polynucleotide coding for said polypeptide, (iii) a vector comprising said polynucleotide, and (iv) a host cell genetically engineered expressing said polypeptide; the use of such a composition for the manufacture of a medicament for treating and/or preventing a neurodegenerative disorder in a subject; and a method of testing a subject thought to have or be predisposed to having a neurodegenerative disorder.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a compound selected in the group comprising (i) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected in the group comprising the amino acid sequence of the long isoform in Homo sapiens of the RdCVF2 gene (SEQ ID NO: 10), orthologs, derivatives and fragments thereof, (ii) a polynucleotide coding for said polypeptide, (iii) a vector comprising said polynucleotide, and (iv) a host cell genetically engineered expressing said polypeptide; the use of such a composition for the manufacture of a medicament for treating and/or preventing a neurodegenerative disorder in a subject; and a method of testing a subject thought to have or be predisposed to having a neurodegenerative disorder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to preventive and/or therapeutic agents for use in the treatment of retinal inflammation, and more specifically of Age-related macular degeneration and Retinitis pigmentosa, wherein said agents are selected from an IL-6 inhibitor, an APOE inhibitor and/or a Fas activator as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a neuroglobin agonist for use in the treatment or prevention of a mitochondrial disease associated with respiratory chain complex I (RCCI) deficiency and/or respiratory chain complex III (RCCIII) deficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising i) a nucleotide sequence coding for a hyperpolarizing light-gated ion channel or pump gene from an archeon or for a light-active fragment of said gene, or the nucleotide sequence and ii) a nucleotide sequence coding for a neurotrophic factor for use in the treatment of a retinal degenerative disease.

Abstract: The use of substance selected from taurine, a taurine precursor, a taurine metabolite, a taurine derivative, a taurine analog and a substance required for the taurine biosynthesis, for preventing or inhibiting the undesirable side-effects caused to a human or an animal organism by an active ingredient that induces a high level of extracellular GABA or increases GABA receptor activation, and a pharmaceutical composition including the substance and the active ingredient.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for early diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of an ocular disorder. In particular, the invention relates to a novel protein, that is differentially transcribed and expressed in subjects suffering from retinal dystrophies and the like, such as retinal dystrophy and age-related macular degeneration compared with healthy subjects, antibodies which recognize this protein, and methods for diagnosing such conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for expressing a polynucleotide of interest in the retina of a subject. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for expressing a polynucleotide of interest in the retina of a subject comprising the step consisting of injecting into the vitreous an amount of a vector containing the polynucleotide of interest in combination with an amount of an inhibitor of Dp71 expression.

Abstract: The use of substance selected from taurine, a taurine precursor, a taurine metabolite, a taurine derivative, a taurine analog and a substance required for the taurine biosynthesis, for preventing or inhibiting the undesirable side-effects caused to a human or an animal organism by an active ingredient that induces a high level of extracellular GABA or increases GABA receptor activation, and a pharmaceutical composition including the substance and the active ingredient.

Abstract: A method for in vitro obtaining human retinal progenitors, includes the steps of (i) placing an adherent culture of human pluripotent stem cells in a pro-neural medium; and (ii) maintaining this culture in the pro-neural medium until the appearance of pigmented cells and/or of neuroepithelial-like structures. Additional steps can be performed to obtain RPE cells and/or precursors of the neural retina.

Abstract: A biocompatible carbon based electrode, and its preparation process are described. The electrode is formed by first and second biocompatible chemically oxygen terminated or H-terminated carbon-based materials. The first material is configured to promote the growth or at least the direct interfacing of adult neurons on the first material without substantially promoting the growth and direct interfacing of glial cells on the first material. The second material presents a peptide coating to promote the growth and at least the direct interfacing of adult glial cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In particular the present invention relates to RdCVFL polypeptide or polynucleotide for use in the treatment of AMD.

Abstract: An expression vector containing appropriate mitochondrion-targeting sequences (MTS) and appropriate 3?UTR sequences provides efficient and stable delivery of a mRNA encoding a protein (CDS) to the mitochondrion of a mammalian cell. The MTS and 3?UTR sequences guide the CDS mRNA from the nuclear compartment of the cell to mitochondrion-bound polysomes, where the CDS is translated. This provides an efficient translocation of a mature functional protein into the mitochondria. A method of targeting mRNA expressed in the nuclear compartment of a mammalian cell to the mitochondrion is also provided. The vector and methods can be used to treat defects in mitochondrial function.

Abstract: The inventors demonstrate that mRNA sorting to the mitochondrial surface is an efficient way to proceed to such an allotopic expression, and that this mRNA sorting can be controlled by selecting appropriate mitochondrion-targeting sequence (MTS) and appropriate 3?UTR sequences. The CDS sequence which codes for the protein to be delivered into the mitochondrion is guided by these appropriate MTS and 3?UTR sequences from the nuclear compartment to the mitochondrion-bound polysomes (where the CDS is translated), and aids in an efficient translocation of a mature functional protein into the mitochondria. Appropriate MTS and 3?UTR sequences correspond to those of nuclearly-transcribed mitochondrially-targeted mRNAs. The inventors demonstrate that, to obtain a stable therapeutically-effective importation, both an appropriate MTS and an appropriate 3?UTR should preferably be used.