PIGMENT EPITHELIUM-DERIVED FACTOR PEPTIDES AND USE FOR TREATING RETINAL DEGENERATION

Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating retinal degeneration, such as an inherited retinal degeneration. In some examples, the compositions include a pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) protein or a peptide thereof. Compositions including a PEDF 17mer[H105A] peptide in an eye drop formulation or an adeno-associated virus vector including a nucleic acid encoding a PEDF protein or PEDF 17mer[H105A] peptide are provided. Methods for treating retinal degeneration include administering a provided eyedrop formulation or adeno-associated virus vector to an eye of a subject with retinal degeneration.