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Abstract
Retinal degeneration is a leading cause of untreatable blindness in the industrialised world. It is typically irreversible and there are few curative treatments available. The use of stem cells to generate new retinal neurons for transplantation purposes has received significant interest in recent years and is beginning to move towards clinical trials. However, such approaches are likely to be most effective for relatively focal areas of repair. An intriguing complementary approach is endogenous self-repair. Retinal cells from the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ), retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Müller glial cells (MG) have all been shown to play a role in retinal repair, typically in lower vertebrates. Among them, MG have received renewed interest, due to their distribution throughout (centre to periphery) the neural retina and their potential to re-acquire a progenitor-like state following retinal injury with the ability to proliferate and generate new neurons. Triggering these innate self-repair mechanisms represents an exciting therapeutic option in treating retinal degeneration. However, these cells behave differently in mammalian and non-mammalian species, with a considerably restricted potential in mammals. In this short review, we look at some of the recent progress made in our understanding of the signalling pathways that underlie MG-mediated regeneration in lower vertebrates, and some of the challenges that have been revealed in our attempts to reactivate this process in the mammalian retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Langhe
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
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52
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Reprogramming of Adult Retinal Müller Glial Cells into Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells as an Efficient Source of Retinal Cells. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:7858796. [PMID: 31396286 PMCID: PMC6664555 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7858796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The reprogramming of human somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has broad applications in regenerative medicine. The generation of self-organized retinal structures from these iPSCs offers the opportunity to study retinal development and model-specific retinal disease with patient-specific iPSCs and provides the basis for cell replacement strategies. In this study, we demonstrated that the major type of glial cells of the human retina, Müller cells, can be reprogrammed into iPSCs that acquire classical signature of pluripotent stem cells. These Müller glial cell-derived iPSCs were able to differentiate toward retinal fate and generate concomitantly retinal pigmented epithelial cells and self-forming retinal organoid structures containing retinal progenitor cells. Retinal organoids recapitulated retinal neurogenesis with differentiation of retinal progenitor cells into all retinal cell types in a sequential overlapping order. With a modified retinal maturation protocol characterized by the presence of serum and high glucose levels, our study revealed that the retinal organoids contained pseudolaminated neural retina with important features reminiscent of mature photoreceptors, both rod and cone subtypes. This advanced maturation of photoreceptors not only supports the possibility to use 3D retinal organoids for studying photoreceptor development but also offers a novel opportunity for disease modeling, particularly for inherited retinal diseases.
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53
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Akhtar T, Xie H, Khan MI, Zhao H, Bao J, Zhang M, Xue T. Accelerated photoreceptor differentiation of hiPSC-derived retinal organoids by contact co-culture with retinal pigment epithelium. Stem Cell Res 2019; 39:101491. [PMID: 31326746 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal organoids (ROs) derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells recapitulate the three-dimensional structure of retina, mimic human retinal development, and provide cell sources for pre-clinical retinal transplantation. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is crucial for normal outer retinal physiology, including phagocytosis of shed photoreceptor outer segments and secretion of neurotrophic and vasculotrophic growth factors. However, whether ROs-RPE co-culture can improve the differentiation of photoreceptors in ROs in vitro remains unknown. Herein, primary mouse RPE cells were contact co-cultured with ROs at different time points. Our results revealed that the RPE cells accelerated photoreceptor differentiation in ROs, as the cross talk between the RPE and ROs promoted the stage specific expression of photoreceptor markers at different differentiation stages. Thus, we established an improved co-culture system based on modeling of human retina-RPE dynamics during retinogenesis for the evaluation of ocular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasneem Akhtar
- Eye Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Haohuan Xie
- Eye Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Muhammad Imran Khan
- Eye Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Huan Zhao
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Jin Bao
- Eye Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Mei Zhang
- Eye Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Tian Xue
- Eye Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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54
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Photoreceptor cell replacement in macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa: A pluripotent stem cell-based approach. Prog Retin Eye Res 2019; 71:1-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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55
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Alhaque S, Themis M, Rashidi H. Three-dimensional cell culture: from evolution to revolution. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 373:rstb.2017.0216. [PMID: 29786551 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in the isolation of tissue-resident adult stem cells and the identification of inductive factors that efficiently direct differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells along specific lineages have facilitated the development of high-fidelity modelling of several tissues in vitro Many of the novel approaches have employed self-organizing three-dimensional (3D) culturing of organoids, which offer several advantages over conventional two-dimensional platforms. Organoid technologies hold great promise for modelling diseases and predicting the outcome of drug responses in vitro Here, we outline the historical background and some of the recent advances in the field of three-dimensional organoids. We also highlight some of the current limitations of these systems and discuss potential avenues to further benefit biological research using three-dimensional modelling technologies.This article is part of the theme issue 'Designer human tissue: coming to a lab near you'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharmin Alhaque
- Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK
| | - Michael Themis
- Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UK
| | - Hassan Rashidi
- Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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56
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Völkner M, Kurth T, Karl MO. The Mouse Retinal Organoid Trisection Recipe: Efficient Generation of 3D Retinal Tissue from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1834:119-141. [PMID: 30324441 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8669-9_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of stem cell-based technologies for the derivation of three-dimensional retinal tissues, the so-called retinal organoids, offers many new possibilities for vision research: Organoids facilitate studies on retinal development and in vitro retinal disease modeling, as well as being valuable for drug testing. Further, retinal organoids also provide an unlimited cell source for cell replacement therapies. Here, we describe our protocol for efficiently differentiating large, stratified retinal organoids from mouse embryonic stem cells: unbiased manual dissection of the developing retinal organoid at an early stage into three evenly sized neuroepithelial portions (trisection step) doubles the yield of high-quality organoids. We also describe some useful applications of the protocol, e.g., generation of rod- or cone-enriched retinal organoids, AAV transfection, and cell birth dating. In addition, we provide details of how to process retinal organoids for single organoid gene expression analysis, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Völkner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- Technische Universität Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany
| | - Mike O Karl
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Dresden (DZNE), Dresden, Germany. .,Technische Universität Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany.
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57
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Park J, Baranov P, Aydin A, Abdelgawad H, Singh D, Niu W, Kurisawa M, Spector M, Young MJ. In Situ Cross-linking Hydrogel as a Vehicle for Retinal Progenitor Cell Transplantation. Cell Transplant 2019; 28:596-606. [PMID: 30917696 PMCID: PMC7103606 DOI: 10.1177/0963689719825614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the current limitations of retinal transplantation of stem cells as well as other cell types is the dispersion of cells from the injection site (including loss of cells into the vitreous chamber) and low survival after transplantation. Gelatin-hydroxyphenyl propionic acid (Gtn-HPA) conjugate is a biodegradable polymer that can undergo covalent cross-linking in situ, allowing for injection of incorporated cells through a small caliber needle followed by gel formation in vivo. We tested the hypothesis that Gtn-HPA hydrogel supports survival and integration of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) post-transplantation. In vitro compatibility and in vivo graft survival were assessed by mixing an equal volume of Gtn-HPA conjugate and RPC suspension and triggering enzyme-mediated gelation, using minute amounts of horseradish peroxidase and peroxide. Immunocytochemistry showed >80% survival of cells and minimal apoptosis for cells incorporated into Gtn-HPA, equivalent to controls grown on fibronectin-coated flasks. RPCs undergoing mitosis were seen within the three-dimensional Gtn-HPA hydrogel, but the percentage of Ki-67-positive cells was lower compared with the monolayer controls. For in vivo studies, gel-cell mixture or cell suspension in saline was trans-sclerally injected into the left eye of female Long Evans rats immunosuppressed with cyclosporine A. Grafts survived at the 1 week time point of the study, with Gtn-HPA-delivered grafts showing less inflammatory response demonstrated by anti-leukocyte staining. More eyes in the gel-cell mixture group showed surviving cells in the subretinal space compared with saline-delivered controls, while the number of cells surviving per graft was not significantly different between the two groups. This work demonstrates an injectable in situ cross-linking hydrogel as a potential vehicle for stem cell delivery in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeayoung Park
- 1 Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA.,2 Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Petr Baranov
- 1 Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aybike Aydin
- 1 Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hany Abdelgawad
- 1 Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deepti Singh
- 1 Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wanting Niu
- 3 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Myron Spector
- 3 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael J Young
- 1 Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
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58
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Yanai A, McNab P, Gregory-Evans K. Retinal therapy with induced pluripotent stem cells; leading the way to human clinical trials. EXPERT REVIEW OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/17469899.2019.1568872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anat Yanai
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pia McNab
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kevin Gregory-Evans
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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59
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Cuevas E, Parmar P, Sowden JC. Restoring Vision Using Stem Cells and Transplantation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1185:563-567. [PMID: 31884671 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-27378-1_92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The replacement of retinal cells, or the support of surviving retinal neurons, in a degenerated retina presents a significant challenge in the fields of ophthalmology and regenerative medicine. Stem cell-based therapies are being explored as an approach for treating retinal dystrophies, such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Stargardt's disease, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This review provides an update on the recent progress made toward the restoration of vision lost to degenerative disease using stem cell-based transplantation strategies and the challenges that need to be overcome. Both retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor replacement therapies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Cuevas
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Paresh Parmar
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK.
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60
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Perdigao PRL, van der Spuy J. Gene and Cell Therapy for AIPL1-Associated Leber Congenital Amaurosis: Challenges and Prospects. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1185:97-101. [PMID: 31884595 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-27378-1_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) caused by AIPL1 mutations is one of the most severe forms of inherited retinal degeneration (IRD). The rapid and extensive photoreceptor degeneration challenges the development of potential treatments. Nevertheless, preclinical studies show that both gene augmentation and photoreceptor transplantation can regenerate and restore retinal function in animal models of AIPL1-associated LCA. However, questions regarding long-term benefit and safety still remain as these therapies advance towards clinical application. Ground-breaking advances in stem cell technology and genome editing are examples of alternative therapeutic approaches and address some of the limitations associated with previous methods. The continuous development of these cutting-edge biotechnologies paves the way towards a bright future not only for AIPL1-associated LCA patients but also other forms of IRD.
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61
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Gasparini SJ, Llonch S, Borsch O, Ader M. Transplantation of photoreceptors into the degenerative retina: Current state and future perspectives. Prog Retin Eye Res 2018; 69:1-37. [PMID: 30445193 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian retina displays no intrinsic regenerative capacities, therefore retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or retinitis pigmentosa (RP) result in a permanent loss of the light-sensing photoreceptor cells. The degeneration of photoreceptors leads to vision impairment and, in later stages, complete blindness. Several therapeutic strategies have been developed to slow down or prevent further retinal degeneration, however a definitive cure i.e. replacement of the lost photoreceptors, has not yet been established. Cell-based treatment approaches, by means of photoreceptor transplantation, have been studied in pre-clinical animal models over the last three decades. The introduction of pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids represents, in principle, an unlimited source for the generation of transplantable human photoreceptors. However, safety, immunological and reproducibility-related issues regarding the use of such cells still need to be solved. Moreover, the recent finding of cytoplasmic material transfer between donor and host photoreceptors demands reinterpretation of several former transplantation studies. At the same time, material transfer between healthy donor and dysfunctional patient photoreceptors also offers a potential alternative strategy for therapeutic intervention. In this review we discuss the history and current state of photoreceptor transplantation, the techniques used to assess rescue of visual function, the prerequisites for effective transplantation as well as the main roadblocks, including safety and immune response to the graft, that need to be overcome for successful clinical translation of photoreceptor transplantation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia J Gasparini
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sílvia Llonch
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Borsch
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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62
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Jin ZB, Gao ML, Deng WL, Wu KC, Sugita S, Mandai M, Takahashi M. Stemming retinal regeneration with pluripotent stem cells. Prog Retin Eye Res 2018; 69:38-56. [PMID: 30419340 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cell replacement therapy is a promising treatment for irreversible retinal cell death in diverse diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Stargardt's disease, retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and glaucoma. These diseases are all characterized by the degeneration of one or two retinal cell types that cannot regenerate spontaneously in humans. Aberrant retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells can be observed through optical coherence tomography (OCT) in AMD patients. In RP patients, the morphological and functional abnormalities of RPE and photoreceptor layers are caused by a genetic abnormality. Stargardt's disease or juvenile macular degeneration, which is characterized by the loss of the RPE and photoreceptors in the macular area, causes central vision loss at an early age. Loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) can be observed in patients with glaucoma. Once the retinal cell degeneration is triggered, no treatments can reverse it. Transplantation-based approaches have been proposed as a universal therapy to target patients with various concomitant diseases. Both the replacement of dead cells and neuroprotection are strategies used to rescue visual function in animal models of retinal degeneration. Diverse retinal cell types derived from pluripotent stem cells, including RPE cells, photoreceptors, RGCs and even retinal organoids with a layered structure, provide unlimited cell sources for transplantation. In addition, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multifunctional and protect degenerating retinal cells. The aim of this review is to summarize current findings from preclinical and clinical studies. We begin with a brief introduction to retinal degenerative diseases and cell death in diverse diseases, followed by methods for retinal cell generation. Preclinical and clinical studies are discussed, and future concerns about efficacy, safety and immunorejection are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Bing Jin
- Laboratory for Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory for Ophthalmology, Optometry & Visual Science, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
| | - Mei-Ling Gao
- Laboratory for Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory for Ophthalmology, Optometry & Visual Science, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Wen-Li Deng
- Laboratory for Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory for Ophthalmology, Optometry & Visual Science, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Kun-Chao Wu
- Laboratory for Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory for Ophthalmology, Optometry & Visual Science, National Center for International Research in Regenerative Medicine and Neurogenetics, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Sunao Sugita
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Michiko Mandai
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
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63
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Singh MS, MacLaren RE. Stem Cell Treatment for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: the Challenges. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2018; 59:AMD78-AMD82. [PMID: 30025109 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-24426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mandeep S Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Robert E MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
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64
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Buenaventura DF, Ghinia-Tegla MG, Emerson MM. Fate-restricted retinal progenitor cells adopt a molecular profile and spatial position distinct from multipotent progenitor cells. Dev Biol 2018; 443:35-49. [PMID: 30145104 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
During development, multipotent retinal progenitor cells generate a large number of unique cell types. Recent evidence suggests that there are fate-restricted progenitor cell states in addition to multipotent ones. Here we report a transcriptomic analysis of fate- restricted progenitor cells biased to produce cone photoreceptors and horizontal cells, marked by the THRB cis-regulatory element ThrbCRM1. Comparison to a control population enriched in multipotent progenitor cells identified several genes considered to be pan-progenitor, such as VSX2, LHX2, and PAX6, as downregulated in these fate- restricted retinal progenitor cells. This differential regulation occurs in chick and in a different restricted progenitor population in mouse suggesting that this is a conserved feature of progenitor dynamics during retinal development. S-phase labeling also revealed that nuclear positions of restricted progenitor populations occupy distinct spatial niches within the developing chick retina. Using a conserved regulatory element proximal to the VSX2 gene, a potential negative feedback mechanism from specific transcription factors enriched in cone/horizontal cell progenitor cells was identified. This study identifies conserved molecular and cellular changes that occur during the generation of fate restricted retinal progenitor cells from multipotent retinal progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego F Buenaventura
- Department of Biology, The City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, United States; Biology Ph.D. Program, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, United States
| | - Miruna G Ghinia-Tegla
- Department of Biology, The City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, United States
| | - Mark M Emerson
- Department of Biology, The City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, United States; Biology Ph.D. Program, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, United States.
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65
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Hallam D, Hilgen G, Dorgau B, Zhu L, Yu M, Bojic S, Hewitt P, Schmitt M, Uteng M, Kustermann S, Steel D, Nicholds M, Thomas R, Treumann A, Porter A, Sernagor E, Armstrong L, Lako M. Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generate Light Responsive Retinal Organoids with Variable and Nutrient-Dependent Efficiency. Stem Cells 2018; 36:1535-1551. [PMID: 30004612 PMCID: PMC6392112 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The availability of in vitro models of the human retina in which to perform pharmacological and toxicological studies is an urgent and unmet need. An essential step for developing in vitro models of human retina is the ability to generate laminated, physiologically functional, and light-responsive retinal organoids from renewable and patient specific sources. We investigated five different human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines and showed a significant variability in their efficiency to generate retinal organoids. Despite this variability, by month 5 of differentiation, all iPSC-derived retinal organoids were able to generate light responses, albeit immature, comparable to the earliest light responses recorded from the neonatal mouse retina, close to the period of eye opening. All iPSC-derived retinal organoids exhibited at this time a well-formed outer nuclear like layer containing photoreceptors with inner segments, connecting cilium, and outer like segments. The differentiation process was highly dependent on seeding cell density and nutrient availability determined by factorial experimental design. We adopted the differentiation protocol to a multiwell plate format, which enhanced generation of retinal organoids with retinal-pigmented epithelium (RPE) and improved ganglion cell development and the response to physiological stimuli. We tested the response of iPSC-derived retinal organoids to Moxifloxacin and showed that similarly to in vivo adult mouse retina, the primary affected cell types were photoreceptors. Together our data indicate that light responsive retinal organoids derived from carefully selected and differentiation efficient iPSC lines can be generated at the scale needed for pharmacology and drug screening purposes. Stem Cells 2018;36:1535-1551.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean Hallam
- Newcastle University, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Gerrit Hilgen
- Newcastle University, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Birthe Dorgau
- Newcastle University, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Lili Zhu
- Newcastle University, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Min Yu
- Newcastle University, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Sanja Bojic
- Newcastle University, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | | | | | - Stefan Kustermann
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, University of Tübingen, Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Steel
- Newcastle University, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Robert Thomas
- Centre for Biological Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Achim Treumann
- Newcastle University, Newcastle University Protein and Proteome Analysis, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Andrew Porter
- Newcastle University, Newcastle University Protein and Proteome Analysis, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Evelyne Sernagor
- Newcastle University, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Lyle Armstrong
- Newcastle University, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Newcells Biotech, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Newcastle University, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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66
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Ovando-Roche P, West EL, Branch MJ, Sampson RD, Fernando M, Munro P, Georgiadis A, Rizzi M, Kloc M, Naeem A, Ribeiro J, Smith AJ, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Ali RR. Use of bioreactors for culturing human retinal organoids improves photoreceptor yields. Stem Cell Res Ther 2018; 9:156. [PMID: 29895313 PMCID: PMC5998504 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-0907-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The use of human pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal cells for cell therapy strategies and disease modelling relies on the ability to obtain healthy and organised retinal tissue in sufficient quantities. Generating such tissue is a lengthy process, often taking over 6 months of cell culture, and current approaches do not always generate large quantities of the major retinal cell types required. Methods We adapted our previously described differentiation protocol to investigate the use of stirred-tank bioreactors. We used immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and electron microscopy to characterise retinal organoids grown in standard and bioreactor culture conditions. Results Our analysis revealed that the use of bioreactors results in improved laminar stratification as well as an increase in the yield of photoreceptor cells bearing cilia and nascent outer-segment-like structures. Conclusions Bioreactors represent a promising platform for scaling up the manufacture of retinal cells for use in disease modelling, drug screening and cell transplantation studies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-018-0907-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Ovando-Roche
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Emma L West
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Matthew J Branch
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Robert D Sampson
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Milan Fernando
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Peter Munro
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Anastasios Georgiadis
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Matteo Rizzi
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Magdalena Kloc
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Arifa Naeem
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Joana Ribeiro
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Alexander J Smith
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK. .,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, City Road, London, EC1V 2PD, UK.
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67
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Stern JH, Tian Y, Funderburgh J, Pellegrini G, Zhang K, Goldberg JL, Ali RR, Young M, Xie Y, Temple S. Regenerating Eye Tissues to Preserve and Restore Vision. Cell Stem Cell 2018; 22:834-849. [PMID: 29859174 PMCID: PMC6492284 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2018.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ocular regenerative therapies are on track to revolutionize treatment of numerous blinding disorders, including corneal disease, cataract, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, and age-related macular degeneration. A variety of transplantable products, delivered as cell suspensions or as preformed 3D structures combining cells and natural or artificial substrates, are in the pipeline. Here we review the status of clinical and preclinical studies for stem cell-based repair, covering key eye tissues from front to back, from cornea to retina, and including bioengineering approaches that advance cell product manufacturing. While recognizing the challenges, we look forward to a deep portfolio of sight-restoring, stem cell-based medicine. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey H Stern
- Neural Stem Cell Institute, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA; Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Yangzi Tian
- Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 257 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203, USA
| | - James Funderburgh
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Graziella Pellegrini
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via G.Gottardi 100, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Kang Zhang
- Shiley Eye Institute and Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University and Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Laboratory, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jeffrey L Goldberg
- Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University, 2452 Watson Court, Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK; Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Michael Young
- The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Yubing Xie
- Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 257 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203, USA
| | - Sally Temple
- Neural Stem Cell Institute, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA; Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
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68
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Gonzalez-Cordero A, Goh D, Kruczek K, Naeem A, Fernando M, Kleine Holthaus SM, Takaaki M, Blackford SJI, Kloc M, Agundez L, Sampson RD, Borooah S, Ovando-Roche P, Mehat MS, West EL, Smith AJ, Pearson RA, Ali RR. Assessment of AAV Vector Tropisms for Mouse and Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived RPE and Photoreceptor Cells. Hum Gene Ther 2018; 29:1124-1139. [PMID: 29580100 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2018.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viral vectors are showing great promise as gene therapy vectors for a wide range of retinal disorders. To date, evaluation of therapeutic approaches has depended almost exclusively on the use of animal models. With recent advances in human stem cell technology, stem cell-derived retina now offers the possibility to assess efficacy in human organoids in vitro. Here we test six adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes [AAV2/2, AAV2/9, AAV2/8, AAV2/8T(Y733F), AAV2/5, and ShH10] to determine their efficiency in transducing mouse and human pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor cells in vitro. All the serotypes tested were capable of transducing RPE and photoreceptor cells in vitro. AAV ShH10 and AAV2/5 are the most efficient vectors at transducing both mouse and human RPE, while AAV2/8 and ShH10 achieved similarly robust transduction of human embryonic stem cell-derived cone photoreceptors. Furthermore, we show that human embryonic stem cell-derived photoreceptors can be used to establish promoter specificity in human cells in vitro. The results of this study will aid capsid selection and vector design for preclinical evaluation of gene therapy approaches, such as gene editing, that require the use of human cells and tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Debbie Goh
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Kamil Kruczek
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Arifa Naeem
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Milan Fernando
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Sophia-Martha Kleine Holthaus
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom .,2 MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Matsuki Takaaki
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel J I Blackford
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Magdalena Kloc
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Leticia Agundez
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Robert D Sampson
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Shyamanga Borooah
- 3 Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Ovando-Roche
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Manjit S Mehat
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Emma L West
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander J Smith
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael A Pearson
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R Ali
- 1 Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
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Nickerson PEB, Ortin-Martinez A, Wallace VA. Material Exchange in Photoreceptor Transplantation: Updating Our Understanding of Donor/Host Communication and the Future of Cell Engraftment Science. Front Neural Circuits 2018; 12:17. [PMID: 29559897 PMCID: PMC5845679 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Considerable research effort has been invested into the transplantation of mammalian photoreceptors into healthy and degenerating mouse eyes. Several platforms of rod and cone fluorescent reporting have been central to refining the isolation, purification and transplantation of photoreceptors. The tracking of engrafted cells, including identifying the position, morphology and degree of donor cell integration post-transplant is highly dependent on the use of fluorescent protein reporters. Improvements in imaging and analysis of transplant recipients have revealed that donor cell fluorescent reporters can transfer into host tissue though a process termed material exchange (ME). This recent discovery has chaperoned a new era of interpretation when reviewing the field’s use of dissociated donor cell preparations, and has prompted scientists to re-examine how we use and interpret the information derived from fluorescence-based tracking tools. In this review, we describe the status of our understanding of ME in photoreceptor transplantation. In addition, we discuss the impact of this discovery on several aspects of historical rod and cone transplantation data, and provide insight into future standards and approaches to advance the field of cell engraftment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip E B Nickerson
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Arturo Ortin-Martinez
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Valerie A Wallace
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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70
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Thakur A, Mishra S, Pena J, Zhou J, Redenti S, Majeska R, Vazquez M. Collective adhesion and displacement of retinal progenitor cells upon extracellular matrix substrates of transplantable biomaterials. J Tissue Eng 2018; 9:2041731417751286. [PMID: 29344334 PMCID: PMC5764132 DOI: 10.1177/2041731417751286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Strategies to replace retinal photoreceptors lost to damage or disease rely upon the migration of replacement cells transplanted into sub-retinal spaces. A significant obstacle to the advancement of cell transplantation for retinal repair is the limited migration of transplanted cells into host retina. In this work, we examine the adhesion and displacement responses of retinal progenitor cells on extracellular matrix substrates found in retina as well as widely used in the design and preparation of transplantable scaffolds. The data illustrate that retinal progenitor cells exhibit unique adhesive and displacement dynamics in response to poly-l-lysine, fibronectin, laminin, hyaluronic acid, and Matrigel. These findings suggest that transplantable biomaterials can be designed to improve cell integration by incorporating extracellular matrix substrates that affect the migratory behaviors of replacement cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankush Thakur
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shawn Mishra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Juan Pena
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jing Zhou
- Department of Biology, Lehman College, Bronx, NY, USA.,Biology, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen Redenti
- Department of Biology, Lehman College, Bronx, NY, USA.,Biology, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.,Biochemistry, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert Majeska
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maribel Vazquez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA.,Biochemistry, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
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71
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Waldron PV, Di Marco F, Kruczek K, Ribeiro J, Graca AB, Hippert C, Aghaizu ND, Kalargyrou AA, Barber AC, Grimaldi G, Duran Y, Blackford SJI, Kloc M, Goh D, Zabala Aldunate E, Sampson RD, Bainbridge JWB, Smith AJ, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Sowden JC, Ali RR, Pearson RA. Transplanted Donor- or Stem Cell-Derived Cone Photoreceptors Can Both Integrate and Undergo Material Transfer in an Environment-Dependent Manner. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 10:406-421. [PMID: 29307580 PMCID: PMC5830910 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human vision relies heavily upon cone photoreceptors, and their loss results in permanent visual impairment. Transplantation of healthy photoreceptors can restore visual function in models of inherited blindness, a process previously understood to arise by donor cell integration within the host retina. However, we and others recently demonstrated that donor rod photoreceptors engage in material transfer with host photoreceptors, leading to the host cells acquiring proteins otherwise expressed only by donor cells. We sought to determine whether stem cell- and donor-derived cones undergo integration and/or material transfer. We find that material transfer accounts for a significant proportion of rescued cells following cone transplantation into non-degenerative hosts. Strikingly, however, substantial numbers of cones integrated into the Nrl-/- and Prph2rd2/rd2, but not Nrl-/-;RPE65R91W/R91W, murine models of retinal degeneration. This confirms the occurrence of photoreceptor integration in certain models of retinal degeneration and demonstrates the importance of the host environment in determining transplantation outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul V Waldron
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Fabiana Di Marco
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Kamil Kruczek
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Joana Ribeiro
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Anna B Graca
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Claire Hippert
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Nozie D Aghaizu
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | - Amanda C Barber
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Giulia Grimaldi
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Yanai Duran
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | - Magdalena Kloc
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Debbie Goh
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Eduardo Zabala Aldunate
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Robert D Sampson
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | - Alexander J Smith
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Rachael A Pearson
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK.
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72
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Oswald J, Baranov P. Regenerative medicine in the retina: from stem cells to cell replacement therapy. Ther Adv Ophthalmol 2018; 10:2515841418774433. [PMID: 29998222 PMCID: PMC6016968 DOI: 10.1177/2515841418774433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Following the fast pace of the growing field of stem cell research, retinal cell replacement is finally emerging as a feasible mean to be explored for clinical application. Although neuroprotective treatments are able to slow the progression of retinal degeneration caused by diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma, they are insufficient to fully halt disease progression and unable to recover previously lost vision. Comprehensive, technological and intellectual advances over the past years, including the in vitro differentiation of retinal cells at manufacturing scale from embryonic stem (ES) cell and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell cultures, progress within the area of retinal disease modeling, and the first clinical trials have started to shape the way towards addressing this treatment gap and translating retinal cell replacement to the clinic. Here, summarize the most recent advances within retinal cell replacement from both a scientific and clinical perspective, and discuss the remaining challenges towards the delivery of the first retinal cell products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Oswald
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Petr Baranov
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
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73
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Javed A, Cayouette M. Temporal Progression of Retinal Progenitor Cell Identity: Implications in Cell Replacement Therapies. Front Neural Circuits 2017; 11:105. [PMID: 29375321 PMCID: PMC5770695 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2017.00105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases, which lead to the death of rod and cone photoreceptor cells, are the leading cause of inherited vision loss worldwide. Induced pluripotent or embryonic stem cells (iPSCs/ESCs) have been proposed as a possible source of new photoreceptors to restore vision in these conditions. The proof of concept studies carried out in mouse models of retinal degeneration over the past decade have highlighted several limitations for cell replacement in the retina, such as the low efficiency of cone photoreceptor production from stem cell cultures and the poor integration of grafted cells in the host retina. Current protocols to generate photoreceptors from stem cells are largely based on the use of extracellular factors. Although these factors are essential to induce the retinal progenitor cell (RPC) fate from iPSCs/ESCs, developmental studies have shown that RPCs alter fate output as a function of time (i.e., their temporal identity) to generate the seven major classes of retinal cell types, rather than spatial position. Surprisingly, current stem cell differentiation protocols largely ignore the intrinsic temporal identity of dividing RPCs, which we argue likely explains the low efficiency of cone production in such cultures. In this article, we briefly review the mechanisms regulating temporal identity in RPCs and discuss how they could be exploited to improve cone photoreceptor production for cell replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awais Javed
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montreal (IRCM), Montreal, QC, Canada.,Molecular Biology Program, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michel Cayouette
- Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montreal (IRCM), Montreal, QC, Canada.,Molecular Biology Program, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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74
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Gonzalez-Cordero A, Kruczek K, Naeem A, Fernando M, Kloc M, Ribeiro J, Goh D, Duran Y, Blackford SJI, Abelleira-Hervas L, Sampson RD, Shum IO, Branch MJ, Gardner PJ, Sowden JC, Bainbridge JWB, Smith AJ, West EL, Pearson RA, Ali RR. Recapitulation of Human Retinal Development from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Generates Transplantable Populations of Cone Photoreceptors. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 9:820-837. [PMID: 28844659 PMCID: PMC5599247 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transplantation of rod photoreceptors, derived either from neonatal retinae or pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), can restore rod-mediated visual function in murine models of inherited blindness. However, humans depend more upon cone photoreceptors that are required for daylight, color, and high-acuity vision. Indeed, macular retinopathies involving loss of cones are leading causes of blindness. An essential step for developing stem cell-based therapies for maculopathies is the ability to generate transplantable human cones from renewable sources. Here, we report a modified 2D/3D protocol for generating hPSC-derived neural retinal vesicles with well-formed ONL-like structures containing cones and rods bearing inner segments and connecting cilia, nascent outer segments, and presynaptic structures. This differentiation system recapitulates human photoreceptor development, allowing the isolation and transplantation of a pure population of stage-matched cones. Purified human long/medium cones survive and become incorporated within the adult mouse retina, supporting the potential of photoreceptor transplantation for treating retinal degeneration. hPSC-derived photoreceptors express markers in a pattern similar to human development 2D/3D differentiation protocol generates sufficient cones for transplantation hPSC-derived cones incorporate into the adult retina following transplantation
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Affiliation(s)
- Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Kamil Kruczek
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Arifa Naeem
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Milan Fernando
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Magdalena Kloc
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Joana Ribeiro
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Debbie Goh
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Yanai Duran
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Samuel J I Blackford
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Laura Abelleira-Hervas
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Robert D Sampson
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Ian O Shum
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Matthew J Branch
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Peter J Gardner
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - James W B Bainbridge
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Alexander J Smith
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Emma L West
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Rachael A Pearson
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
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