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Zhao H, Yan F. Retinal Organoids: A Next-Generation Platform for High-Throughput Drug Discovery. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:495-508. [PMID: 38079086 PMCID: PMC10837228 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10661-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Retinal diseases are leading causes of blindness globally. Developing new drugs is of great significance for preventing vision loss. Current drug discovery relies mainly on two-dimensional in vitro models and animal models, but translation to human efficacy and safety is biased. In recent years, the emergence of retinal organoid technology platforms, utilizing three-dimensional microenvironments to better mimic retinal structure and function, has provided new platforms for exploring pathogenic mechanisms and drug screening. This review summarizes the latest advances in retinal organoid technology, emphasizing its application advantages in high-throughput drug screening, efficacy and toxicity evaluation, and translational medicine research. The review also prospects the combination of emerging technologies such as organ-on-a-chip, 3D bioprinting, single cell sequencing, gene editing with retinal organoid technology, which is expected to further optimize retinal organoid models and advance the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongkun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Fei Yan
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Basic Medicine School, Kunming Medical University, 1168 Yuhua Street, Chunrong West Road, Chenggong District, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China.
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2
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Donato L, Mordà D, Scimone C, Alibrandi S, D’Angelo R, Sidoti A. Bridging Retinal and Cerebral Neurodegeneration: A Focus on Crosslinks between Alzheimer-Perusini's Disease and Retinal Dystrophies. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3258. [PMID: 38137479 PMCID: PMC10741418 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In the early stages of Alzheimer-Perusini's disease (AD), individuals often experience vision-related issues such as color vision impairment, reduced contrast sensitivity, and visual acuity problems. As the disease progresses, there is a connection with glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) leading to retinal cell death. The retina's involvement suggests a link with the hippocampus, where most AD forms start. A thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) due to the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is seen as a potential AD diagnostic marker using electroretinography (ERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Amyloid beta fragments (Aβ), found in the eye's vitreous and aqueous humor, are also present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and accumulate in the retina. Aβ is known to cause tau hyperphosphorylation, leading to its buildup in various retinal layers. However, diseases like AD are now seen as mixed proteinopathies, with deposits of the prion protein (PrP) and α-synuclein found in affected brains and retinas. Glial cells, especially microglial cells, play a crucial role in these diseases, maintaining immunoproteostasis. Studies have shown similarities between retinal and brain microglia in terms of transcription factor expression and morphotypes. All these findings constitute a good start to achieving better comprehension of neurodegeneration in both the eye and the brain. New insights will be able to bring the scientific community closer to specific disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Donato
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Domenico Mordà
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Concetta Scimone
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Simona Alibrandi
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.), 90139 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Rosalia D’Angelo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
| | - Antonina Sidoti
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (L.D.); (C.S.); (R.D.); (A.S.)
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3
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Wong NK, Yip SP, Huang CL. Establishing Functional Retina in a Dish: Progress and Promises of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Retinal Neuron Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13652. [PMID: 37686457 PMCID: PMC10487913 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The human eye plays a critical role in vision perception, but various retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can lead to vision loss or blindness. Although progress has been made in understanding retinal development and in clinical research, current treatments remain inadequate for curing or reversing these degenerative conditions. Animal models have limited relevance to humans, and obtaining human eye tissue samples is challenging due to ethical and legal considerations. Consequently, researchers have turned to stem cell-based approaches, specifically induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to generate distinct retinal cell populations and develop cell replacement therapies. iPSCs offer a novel platform for studying the key stages of human retinogenesis and disease-specific mechanisms. Stem cell technology has facilitated the production of diverse retinal cell types, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and photoreceptors, and the development of retinal organoids has emerged as a valuable in vitro tool for investigating retinal neuron differentiation and modeling retinal diseases. This review focuses on the protocols, culture conditions, and techniques employed in differentiating retinal neurons from iPSCs. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significance of molecular and functional validation of the differentiated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonthaphat Kent Wong
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shea Ping Yip
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chien-Ling Huang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
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4
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Shrestha J, Paudel KR, Nazari H, Dharwal V, Bazaz SR, Johansen MD, Dua K, Hansbro PM, Warkiani ME. Advanced models for respiratory disease and drug studies. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:1470-1503. [PMID: 37119028 PMCID: PMC10946967 DOI: 10.1002/med.21956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
The global burden of respiratory diseases is enormous, with many millions of people suffering and dying prematurely every year. The global COVID-19 pandemic witnessed recently, along with increased air pollution and wildfire events, increases the urgency of identifying the most effective therapeutic measures to combat these diseases even further. Despite increasing expenditure and extensive collaborative efforts to identify and develop the most effective and safe treatments, the failure rates of drugs evaluated in human clinical trials are high. To reverse these trends and minimize the cost of drug development, ineffective drug candidates must be eliminated as early as possible by employing new, efficient, and accurate preclinical screening approaches. Animal models have been the mainstay of pulmonary research as they recapitulate the complex physiological processes, Multiorgan interplay, disease phenotypes of disease, and the pharmacokinetic behavior of drugs. Recently, the use of advanced culture technologies such as organoids and lung-on-a-chip models has gained increasing attention because of their potential to reproduce human diseased states and physiology, with clinically relevant responses to drugs and toxins. This review provides an overview of different animal models for studying respiratory diseases and evaluating drugs. We also highlight recent progress in cell culture technologies to advance integrated models and discuss current challenges and present future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Shrestha
- School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Keshav Raj Paudel
- Centre for InflammationCentenary Institute and University of Technology SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Hojjatollah Nazari
- School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Vivek Dharwal
- Centre for InflammationCentenary Institute and University of Technology SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Sajad Razavi Bazaz
- School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Matt D. Johansen
- Centre for InflammationCentenary Institute and University of Technology SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Kamal Dua
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of HealthUniversity of TechnologySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary & Integrative MedicineUniversity of Technology SydneyUltimoNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Philip M. Hansbro
- Centre for InflammationCentenary Institute and University of Technology SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Majid Ebrahimi Warkiani
- School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Technology SydneyUltimoNew South WalesAustralia
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5
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Móvio MI, de Lima-Vasconcellos TH, Dos Santos GB, Echeverry MB, Colombo E, Mattos LS, Resende RR, Kihara AH. Retinal organoids from human-induced pluripotent stem cells: From studying retinal dystrophies to early diagnosis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 144:77-86. [PMID: 36210260 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have provided new methods to study neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to their wide application in neuronal disorders, hiPSCs technology can also encompass specific conditions, such as inherited retinal dystrophies. The possibility of evaluating alterations related to retinal disorders in 3D organoids increases the truthfulness of in vitro models. Moreover, both Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) have been described as causing early retinal alterations, generating beta-amyloid protein accumulation, or affecting dopaminergic amacrine cells. This review addresses recent advances and future perspectives obtained from in vitro modeling of retinal diseases, focusing on retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Additionally, we depicted the possibility of evaluating changes related to AD and PD in retinal organoids obtained from potential patients long before the onset of the disease, constituting a valuable tool in early diagnosis. With this, we pointed out prospects in the study of retinal dystrophies and early diagnosis of AD and PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marília Inês Móvio
- Laboratório de Neurogenética, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcela Bermudez Echeverry
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Elisabetta Colombo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Leonardo S Mattos
- Biomedical Robotics Laboratory, Department of Advanced Robotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Rodrigo Ribeiro Resende
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Hiroaki Kihara
- Laboratório de Neurogenética, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil; Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
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6
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Wang Y, Yin N, Yang R, Faiola F. Pollution effects on retinal health: A review on current methodologies and findings. Toxicol Ind Health 2023; 39:336-344. [PMID: 37160417 DOI: 10.1177/07482337231174072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
In our daily life, we are exposed to numerous industrial chemicals that may be harmful to the retina, which is a delicate and sensitive part of our eyes. This could lead to irreversible changes and cause retinal diseases or blindness. Current retinal environmental health studies primarily utilize animal models, isolated mammalian retinas, animal- or human-derived retinal cells, and retinal organoids, to address both pre- and postnatal exposure. However, as there is limited toxicological information available for specific populations, human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-induced models could be effective tools to supplement such data. In order to obtain more comprehensive and reliable toxicological information, we need more appropriate models, novel evaluation methods, and computational technologies to develop portable equipment. This review mainly focused on current toxicology models with particular emphasis on retinal organoids, and it looks forward to future models, analytical methods, and equipment that can efficiently and accurately evaluate retinal toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nuoya Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Renjun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Francesco Faiola
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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7
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Kim HJ, O’Hara-Wright M, Kim D, Loi TH, Lim BY, Jamieson RV, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Yang P. Comprehensive characterization of fetal and mature retinal cell identity to assess the fidelity of retinal organoids. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:175-189. [PMID: 36630901 PMCID: PMC9860116 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Characterizing cell identity in complex tissues such as the human retina is essential for studying its development and disease. While retinal organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells have been widely used to model development and disease of the human retina, there is a lack of studies that have systematically evaluated the molecular and cellular fidelity of the organoids derived from various culture protocols in recapitulating their in vivo counterpart. To this end, we performed an extensive meta-atlas characterization of cellular identities of the human eye, covering a wide range of developmental stages. The resulting map uncovered previously unknown biomarkers of major retinal cell types and those associated with cell-type-specific maturation. Using our retinal-cell-identity map from the fetal and adult tissues, we systematically assessed the fidelity of the retinal organoids in mimicking the human eye, enabling us to comprehensively benchmark the current protocols for retinal organoid generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hani Jieun Kim
- Computational Systems Biology Group, Children’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia,School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Michelle O’Hara-Wright
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia,Stem Cell Medicine Group, Children’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Daniel Kim
- Computational Systems Biology Group, Children’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - To Ha Loi
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia,Eye Genetics Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Benjamin Y. Lim
- Stem Cell Medicine Group, Children’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Robyn V. Jamieson
- Specialty of Genomic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia,Eye Genetics Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; Stem Cell Medicine Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
| | - Pengyi Yang
- Computational Systems Biology Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
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8
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Leong YC, Sowden JC. Modeling Retinitis Pigmentosa with Patient-Derived iPSCs. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1415:555-563. [PMID: 37440086 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) causes blindness in 1 out of 3000-4000 individuals worldwide. Understanding the disease mechanism underlying the death of photoreceptors in RP patient is crucial for the discovery and development of therapies to prevent and stop the progression of retinal degeneration. Despite having provided valuable insight into RP pathology, several shortcomings of animal models warrant the need for a better modeling system. This review discusses the current use of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to model RP and its advantages over animal models. Further improvement to enhance the representativeness of iPSC RP models is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeh Chwan Leong
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK.
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9
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Arjmand B, Rabbani Z, Soveyzi F, Tayanloo-Beik A, Rezaei-Tavirani M, Biglar M, Adibi H, Larijani B. Advancement of Organoid Technology in Regenerative Medicine. REGENERATIVE ENGINEERING AND TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2023; 9:83-96. [PMID: 35968268 PMCID: PMC9360642 DOI: 10.1007/s40883-022-00271-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Organoids are three-dimensional cultures of stem cells in an environment similar to the body's extracellular matrix. This is also a novel development in the realm of regenerative medicine. Stem cells can begin to develop into 3D structures by modifying signaling pathways. To form organoids, stem cells are transplanted into the extracellular matrix. Organoids have provided the required technologies to reproduce human tissues. As a result, it might be used in place of animal models in scientific study. The key goals of these investigations are research into viral and genetic illnesses, malignancies, and extracellular vesicles, pharmaceutical discovery, and organ transplantation. Organoids can help pave the road for precision medicine through genetic editing, pharmaceutical development, and cell therapy. Methods PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were used to search for all relevant papers written in English (1907-2021). The study abstracts were scrutinized. Studies on the use of stem-cell-derived organoids in regenerative medicine, organoids as 3D culture models for EVs analysis, and organoids for precision medicine were included. Articles with other irrelevant aims, meetings, letters, commentaries, congress and conference abstracts, and articles with no available full texts were excluded. Results According to the included studies, organoids have various origins, types, and applications in regenerative and precision medicine, as well as an important role in studying extracellular vesicles. Conclusion Organoids are considered a bridge that connects preclinical studies to clinical ones. However, the lack of a standardized protocol and other barriers addressed in this review, hinder the vast use of this technology. Lay Summary Organoids are 3D stem cell propagations in biological or synthetic scaffolds that mimic ECM to allow intercellular or matrix-cellular crosstalk. Because these structures are similar to organs in the body, they can be used as research models. Organoids are medicine's future hope for organ transplantation, tumor biobank formation, and the development of precision medicine. Organoid models can be used to study cell-to-cell interactions as well as effective factors like inflammation and aging. Bioengineering technologies are also used to define the size, shape, and composition of organoids before transforming them into precise structures. Finally, the importance of organoid applications in regenerative medicine has opened a new window for a better understanding of biological research, as discussed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babak Arjmand
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Rabbani
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Soveyzi
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akram Tayanloo-Beik
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mahmood Biglar
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Adibi
- Diabetes Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bagher Larijani
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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10
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Generation of Human iPSC-Derived Retinal Organoids for Assessment of AAV-Mediated Gene Delivery. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2560:287-302. [PMID: 36481905 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2651-1_27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Human retinal organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) serve as a promising preclinical model for testing the safety and efficacy of viral gene therapy. Retinal organoids recapitulate the stratified multilayered epithelium structure of the developing and maturating human retina. As such, retinal organoids are unique tools to model retinal disease and to test therapeutic interventions toward their amelioration. Here, we describe a method for the generation of human iPSC-derived retinal organoids and how they can be utilized for the assessment of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV)-mediated gene delivery.
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Jones MK, Agarwal D, Mazo KW, Chopra M, Jurlina SL, Dash N, Xu Q, Ogata AR, Chow M, Hill AD, Kambli NK, Xu G, Sasik R, Birmingham A, Fisch KM, Weinreb RN, Enke RA, Skowronska-Krawczyk D, Wahlin KJ. Chromatin Accessibility and Transcriptional Differences in Human Stem Cell-Derived Early-Stage Retinal Organoids. Cells 2022; 11:3412. [PMID: 36359808 PMCID: PMC9657268 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinogenesis involves the specification of retinal cell types during early vertebrate development. While model organisms have been critical for determining the role of dynamic chromatin and cell-type specific transcriptional networks during this process, an enhanced understanding of the developing human retina has been more elusive due to the requirement for human fetal tissue. Pluripotent stem cell (PSC) derived retinal organoids offer an experimentally accessible solution for investigating the developing human retina. To investigate cellular and molecular changes in developing early retinal organoids, we developed SIX6-GFP and VSX2-tdTomato (or VSX2-h2b-mRuby3) dual fluorescent reporters. When differentiated as 3D organoids these expressed GFP at day 15 and tdTomato (or mRuby3) at day 25, respectively. This enabled us to explore transcriptional and chromatin related changes using RNA-seq and ATAC-seq from pluripotency through early retina specification. Pathway analysis of developing organoids revealed a stepwise loss of pluripotency, while optic vesicle and retina pathways became progressively more prevalent. Correlating gene transcription with chromatin accessibility in early eye field development showed that retinal cells underwent a clear change in chromatin landscape, as well as gene expression profiles. While each dataset alone provided valuable information, considering both in parallel provided an informative glimpse into the molecular nature eye development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa K. Jones
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Devansh Agarwal
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kevin W. Mazo
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Manan Chopra
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Shawna L. Jurlina
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nicholas Dash
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Qianlan Xu
- Center for Translational Vision Research, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Anna R. Ogata
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Melissa Chow
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alex D. Hill
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Netra K. Kambli
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Biotechnology, California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA 93012, USA
| | - Guorong Xu
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Roman Sasik
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Amanda Birmingham
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kathleen M. Fisch
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Robert N. Weinreb
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ray A. Enke
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA
| | | | - Karl J. Wahlin
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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12
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In Vitro Models of Biological Barriers for Nanomedical Research. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168910. [PMID: 36012181 PMCID: PMC9408841 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanoconstructs developed for biomedical purposes must overcome diverse biological barriers before reaching the target where playing their therapeutic or diagnostic function. In vivo models are very complex and unsuitable to distinguish the roles plaid by the multiple biological barriers on nanoparticle biodistribution and effect; in addition, they are costly, time-consuming and subject to strict ethical regulation. For these reasons, simplified in vitro models are preferred, at least for the earlier phases of the nanoconstruct development. Many in vitro models have therefore been set up. Each model has its own pros and cons: conventional 2D cell cultures are simple and cost-effective, but the information remains limited to single cells; cell monolayers allow the formation of cell–cell junctions and the assessment of nanoparticle translocation across structured barriers but they lack three-dimensionality; 3D cell culture systems are more appropriate to test in vitro nanoparticle biodistribution but they are static; finally, bioreactors and microfluidic devices can mimicking the physiological flow occurring in vivo thus providing in vitro biological barrier models suitable to reliably assess nanoparticles relocation. In this evolving context, the present review provides an overview of the most representative and performing in vitro models of biological barriers set up for nanomedical research.
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13
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Martinelli I, Tayebati SK, Tomassoni D, Nittari G, Roy P, Amenta F. Brain and Retinal Organoids for Disease Modeling: The Importance of In Vitro Blood–Brain and Retinal Barriers Studies. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071120. [PMID: 35406683 PMCID: PMC8997725 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain and retinal organoids are functional and dynamic in vitro three-dimensional (3D) structures derived from pluripotent stem cells that spontaneously organize themselves to their in vivo counterparts. Here, we review the main literature data of how these organoids have been developed through different protocols and how they have been technically analyzed. Moreover, this paper reviews recent advances in using organoids to model neurological and retinal diseases, considering their potential for translational applications but also pointing out their limitations. Since the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and blood–retinal barrier (BRB) are understood to play a fundamental role respectively in brain and eye functions, both in health and in disease, we provide an overview of the progress in the development techniques of in vitro models as reliable and predictive screening tools for BBB and BRB-penetrating compounds. Furthermore, we propose potential future directions for brain and retinal organoids, in which dedicated biobanks will represent a novel tool for neuroscience and ophthalmology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Martinelli
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Seyed Khosrow Tayebati
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
| | - Daniele Tomassoni
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.T.); (P.R.)
| | - Giulio Nittari
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
| | - Proshanta Roy
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.T.); (P.R.)
| | - Francesco Amenta
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
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14
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Retinal Organoids and Retinal Prostheses: An Overview. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23062922. [PMID: 35328339 PMCID: PMC8953078 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23062922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the progress of modern medicine in the last decades, millions of people diagnosed with retinal dystrophies (RDs), such as retinitis pigmentosa, or age-related diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, are suffering from severe visual impairment or even legal blindness. On the one hand, the reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and the progress of three-dimensional (3D) retinal organoids (ROs) technology provide a great opportunity to study, understand, and even treat retinal diseases. On the other hand, research advances in the field of electronic retinal prosthesis using inorganic photovoltaic polymers and the emergence of organic semiconductors represent an encouraging therapeutical strategy to restore vision to patients at the late onset of the disease. This review will provide an overview of the latest advancement in both fields. We first describe the retina and the photoreceptors, briefly mention the most used RD animal models, then focus on the latest RO differentiation protocols, carry out an overview of the current technology on inorganic and organic retinal prostheses to restore vision, and finally summarize the potential utility and applications of ROs.
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15
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Salbaum KA, Shelton ER, Serwane F. Retina organoids: Window into the biophysics of neuronal systems. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:011302. [PMID: 38505227 PMCID: PMC10903499 DOI: 10.1063/5.0077014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
With a kind of magnetism, the human retina draws the eye of neuroscientist and physicist alike. It is attractive as a self-organizing system, which forms as a part of the central nervous system via biochemical and mechanical cues. The retina is also intriguing as an electro-optical device, converting photons into voltages to perform on-the-fly filtering before the signals are sent to our brain. Here, we consider how the advent of stem cell derived in vitro analogs of the retina, termed retina organoids, opens up an exploration of the interplay between optics, electrics, and mechanics in a complex neuronal network, all in a Petri dish. This review presents state-of-the-art retina organoid protocols by emphasizing links to the biochemical and mechanical signals of in vivo retinogenesis. Electrophysiological recording of active signal processing becomes possible as retina organoids generate light sensitive and synaptically connected photoreceptors. Experimental biophysical tools provide data to steer the development of mathematical models operating at different levels of coarse-graining. In concert, they provide a means to study how mechanical factors guide retina self-assembly. In turn, this understanding informs the engineering of mechanical signals required to tailor the growth of neuronal network morphology. Tackling the complex developmental and computational processes in the retina requires an interdisciplinary endeavor combining experiment and theory, physics, and biology. The reward is enticing: in the next few years, retina organoids could offer a glimpse inside the machinery of simultaneous cellular self-assembly and signal processing, all in an in vitro setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elijah R. Shelton
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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16
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Chirco KR, Chew S, Moore AT, Duncan JL, Lamba DA. Allele-specific gene editing to rescue dominant CRX-associated LCA7 phenotypes in a retinal organoid model. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2690-2702. [PMID: 34653402 PMCID: PMC8580887 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cases of Leber congenital amaurosis caused by mutations in CRX (LCA7) exhibit an early form of the disease and show signs of significant photoreceptor dysfunction and eventual loss. To establish a translational in vitro model system to study gene-editing-based therapies, we generated LCA7 retinal organoids harboring a dominant disease-causing mutation in CRX. Our LCA7 retinal organoids develop signs of immature and dysfunctional photoreceptor cells, providing us with a reliable in vitro model to recapitulate LCA7. Furthermore, we performed a proof-of-concept study in which we utilize allele-specific CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing to knock out mutant CRX and saw moderate rescue of photoreceptor phenotypes in our organoids. This work provides early evidence for an effective approach to treat LCA7, which can be applied more broadly to other dominant genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen R Chirco
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Divison of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA; Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Shereen Chew
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anthony T Moore
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jacque L Duncan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Deepak A Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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17
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Li J, Chen Y, Ouyang S, Ma J, Sun H, Luo L, Chen S, Liu Y. Generation and Staging of Human Retinal Organoids Based on Self-Formed Ectodermal Autonomous Multi-Zone System. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:732382. [PMID: 34631711 PMCID: PMC8493070 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.732382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Methods for stem cell-derived, three-dimensional retinal organoids induction have been established and shown great potential for retinal development modeling and drug screening. Herein, we reported an exogenous-factors-free and robust method to generate retinal organoids based on “self-formed ectodermal autonomous multi-zone” (SEAM) system, a two-dimensional induction scheme that can synchronously generate multiple ocular cell lineages. Characterized by distinct morphological changes, the differentiation of the obtained retinal organoids could be staged into the early and late differentiation phases. During the early differentiation stage, retinal ganglion cells, cone photoreceptor cells (PRs), amacrine cells, and horizontal cells developed; whereas rod PRs, bipolar cells, and Müller glial cells were generated in the late differentiation phase, resembling early-phase and late-phase retinogenesis in vivo. Additionally, we modified the maintenance strategy for the retinal organoids and successfully promoted their long-term survival. Using 3D immunofluorescence image reconstruction and transmission electron microscopy, the substantial mature PRs with outer segment, inner segment and ribbon synapse were demonstrated. Besides, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) was induced with distinct boundary and the formation of ciliary margin was observed by co-suspending retina organoids with the zone containing RPE. The obtained RPE could be expanded and displayed similar marker expression, ultrastructural feature and functional phagocytosis to native RPE. Thus, this research described a simple and robust system which enabled generation of retina organoids with substantial mature PRs, RPE and the ciliary margin without the need of exogenous factors, providing a new platform for research of retinogenesis and retinal translational application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yijia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuai Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lixia Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yizhi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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18
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Eldred KC, Reh TA. Human retinal model systems: Strengths, weaknesses, and future directions. Dev Biol 2021; 480:114-122. [PMID: 34529997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The retina is a complex neuronal structure that converts light energy into visual perception. Many specialized aspects of the primate retina, including a cone rich macula for high acuity vision, ocular size, and cell type diversity are not found in other animal models. In addition, the unique morphologies and distinct laminar positions of cell types found in the retina make this model system ideal for the study of neuronal cell fate specification. Many key early events of human retinal development are inaccessible to investigation as they occur during gestation. For these reasons, it has been necessary to develop retinal model systems to gain insight into human-specific retinal development and disease. Recent advances in culturing retinal tissue have generated new systems for retinal research and have moved us closer to generating effective regenerative therapies for vision loss. Here, we describe the strengths, weaknesses, and future directions for different human retinal model systems including dissociated primary tissue, explanted primary tissue, retinospheres, and stem cell-derived retinal organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiara C Eldred
- Department of Biological Structure, Institute for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, Institute for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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19
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Xue Y, Seiler MJ, Tang WC, Wang JY, Delgado J, McLelland BT, Nistor G, Keirstead HS, Browne AW. Retinal organoids on-a-chip: a micro-millifluidic bioreactor for long-term organoid maintenance. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:3361-3377. [PMID: 34236056 PMCID: PMC8387452 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00011j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Retinal degeneration is a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness worldwide and medical care for advanced disease does not exist. Stem cell-derived retinal organoids (RtOgs) became an emerging tool for tissue replacement therapy. However, existing RtOg production methods are highly heterogeneous. Controlled and predictable methodology and tools are needed to standardize RtOg production and maintenance. In this study, we designed a shear stress-free micro-millifluidic bioreactor for nearly labor-free retinal organoid maintenance. We used a stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer to fabricate a mold from which Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was cast. We optimized the chip design using in silico simulations and in vitro evaluation to optimize mass transfer efficiency and concentration uniformity in each culture chamber. We successfully cultured RtOgs at three different differentiation stages (day 41, 88, and 128) on an optimized bioreactor chip for more than 1 month. We used different quantitative and qualitative techniques to fully characterize the RtOgs produced by static dish culture and bioreactor culture methods. By analyzing the results from phase contrast microscopy, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA seq), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), immunohistology, and electron microscopy, we found that bioreactor-cultured RtOgs developed cell types and morphology comparable to static cultured ones and exhibited similar retinal genes expression levels. We also evaluated the metabolic activity of RtOgs in both groups using fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), and found that the outer surface region of bioreactor cultured RtOgs had a comparable free/bound NADH ratio and overall lower long lifetime species (LLS) ratio than static cultured RtOgs during imaging. To summarize, we validated an automated micro-millifluidic device with significantly reduced shear stress to produce RtOgs of comparable quality to those maintained in conventional static culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuntian Xue
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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20
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Zilova L, Weinhardt V, Tavhelidse T, Schlagheck C, Thumberger T, Wittbrodt J. Fish primary embryonic pluripotent cells assemble into retinal tissue mirroring in vivo early eye development. eLife 2021; 10:e66998. [PMID: 34252023 PMCID: PMC8275126 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells promise the solution to current challenges in basic and biomedical research. Mammalian organoids are however limited by long developmental time, variable success, and lack of direct comparison to an in vivo reference. To overcome these limitations and address species-specific cellular organization, we derived organoids from rapidly developing teleosts. We demonstrate how primary embryonic pluripotent cells from medaka and zebrafish efficiently assemble into anterior neural structures, particularly retina. Within 4 days, blastula-stage cell aggregates reproducibly execute key steps of eye development: retinal specification, morphogenesis, and differentiation. The number of aggregated cells and genetic factors crucially impacted upon the concomitant morphological changes that were intriguingly reflecting the in vivo situation. High efficiency and rapid development of fish-derived organoids in combination with advanced genome editing techniques immediately allow addressing aspects of development and disease, and systematic probing of impact of the physical environment on morphogenesis and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Zilova
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Venera Weinhardt
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Tinatini Tavhelidse
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Christina Schlagheck
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
- Heidelberg International Biosciences Graduate School HBIGS and HeiKa Graduate School on “Functional Materials”HeidelbergGermany
| | - Thomas Thumberger
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Joachim Wittbrodt
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
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21
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Peron C, Maresca A, Cavaliere A, Iannielli A, Broccoli V, Carelli V, Di Meo I, Tiranti V. Exploiting hiPSCs in Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON): Present Achievements and Future Perspectives. Front Neurol 2021; 12:648916. [PMID: 34168607 PMCID: PMC8217617 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.648916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 30 years after discovering Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) as the first maternally inherited disease associated with homoplasmic mtDNA mutations, we still struggle to achieve effective therapies. LHON is characterized by selective degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and is the most frequent mitochondrial disease, which leads young people to blindness, in particular males. Despite that causative mutations are present in all tissues, only a specific cell type is affected. Our deep understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms in LHON is hampered by the lack of appropriate models since investigations have been traditionally performed in non-neuronal cells. Effective in-vitro models of LHON are now emerging, casting promise to speed our understanding of pathophysiology and test therapeutic strategies to accelerate translation into clinic. We here review the potentials of these new models and their impact on the future of LHON patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Peron
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Maresca
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Programma di Neurogenetica, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavaliere
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Iannielli
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy
| | - Vania Broccoli
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy
| | - Valerio Carelli
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Programma di Neurogenetica, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences-DIBINEM, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Ivano Di Meo
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Tiranti
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
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22
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Fathi M, Ross CT, Hosseinzadeh Z. Functional 3-Dimensional Retinal Organoids: Technological Progress and Existing Challenges. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:668857. [PMID: 33958988 PMCID: PMC8095320 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.668857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell scientists have developed methods for the self-formation of artificial organs, often referred to as organoids. Organoids can be used as model systems for research in multiple biological disciplines. Yoshiki Sasai’s innovation for deriving mammalian retinal tissue from in vitro stem cells has had a large impact on the study of the biology of vision. New developments in retinal organoid technology provide avenues for in vitro models of human retinal diseases, studies of pathological mechanisms, and development of therapies for retinal degeneration, including electronic retinal implants and gene therapy. Moreover, these innovations have played key roles in establishing models for large-scale drug screening, studying the stages of retinal development, and providing a human model for personalized therapeutic approaches, like cell transplants to replace degenerated retinal cells. Here, we first discuss the importance of human retinal organoids to the biomedical sciences. Then, we review various functional features of retinal organoids that have been developed. Finally, we highlight the current limitations of retinal organoid technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meimanat Fathi
- Department of Cell Techniques and Applied Stem Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BBZ), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Retina Group, Department of Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration, Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Cody T Ross
- Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Zohreh Hosseinzadeh
- Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Retina Group, Department of Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration, Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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23
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Sakalem ME, De Sibio MT, da Costa FADS, de Oliveira M. Historical evolution of spheroids and organoids, and possibilities of use in life sciences and medicine. Biotechnol J 2021; 16:e2000463. [PMID: 33491924 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202000463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An impressive percentage of biomedical advances were achieved through animal research and cell culture investigations. For drug testing and disease researches, both animal models and preclinical trials with cell cultures are extremely important, but present some limitations, such as ethical concern and inability of representing complex tissues and organs. 3D cell cultures arise providing a more realistic in vitro representation of tissues and organs. Environment and cell type in 3D cultures can represent in vivo conditions and thus provide accurate data on cell-to-cell interactions, and cultivation techniques are based on a scaffold, usually hydrogel or another polymeric material, or without scaffold, such as suspended microplates, magnetic levitation, and microplates for spheroids with ultra-low fixation coating. PURPOSE AND SCOPE This review aims at presenting an updated summary of the most common 3D cell culture models available, as well as a historical background of their establishment and possible applications. SUMMARY Even though 3D culturing is incapable of replacing other current research types, they will continue to substitute some unnecessary animal experimentation, as well as complement monolayer cultures. CONCLUSION In this aspect, 3D culture emerges as a valuable alternative to the investigation of functional, biochemical, and molecular aspects of human pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Teresa De Sibio
- Department of Internal Clinic, Botucatu Medicine School of the Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Felipe Allan da Silva da Costa
- Department of Bioprocesses and Biotechnology, School of Agricultural Sciences of the Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Miriane de Oliveira
- Department of Internal Clinic, Botucatu Medicine School of the Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
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24
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Hereditary Optic Neuropathies: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based 2D/3D Approaches. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12010112. [PMID: 33477675 PMCID: PMC7831942 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited optic neuropathies share visual impairment due to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) as the hallmark of the disease. This group of genetic disorders are caused by mutations in nuclear genes or in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). An impaired mitochondrial function is the underlying mechanism of these diseases. Currently, optic neuropathies lack an effective treatment, and the implementation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology would entail a huge step forward. The generation of iPSC-derived RGCs would allow faithfully modeling these disorders, and these RGCs would represent an appealing platform for drug screening as well, paving the way for a proper therapy. Here, we review the ongoing two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) approaches based on iPSCs and their applications, taking into account the more innovative technologies, which include tissue engineering or microfluidics.
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Rahić O, Tucak A, Omerović N, Sirbubalo M, Hindija L, Hadžiabdić J, Vranić E. Novel Drug Delivery Systems Fighting Glaucoma: Formulation Obstacles and Solutions. Pharmaceutics 2020; 13:E28. [PMID: 33375224 PMCID: PMC7824381 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is considered to be one of the biggest health problems in the world. It is the main cause of preventable blindness due to its asymptomatic nature in the early stages on the one hand and patients' non-adherence on the other. There are several approaches in glaucoma treatment, whereby this has to be individually designed for each patient. The first-line treatment is medication therapy. However, taking into account numerous disadvantages of conventional ophthalmic dosage forms, intensive work has been carried out on the development of novel drug delivery systems for glaucoma. This review aims to provide an overview of formulation solutions and strategies in the development of in situ gel systems, nanosystems, ocular inserts, contact lenses, collagen corneal shields, ocular implants, microneedles, and iontophoretic devices. The results of studies confirming the effectiveness of the aforementioned drug delivery systems were also briefly presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ognjenka Rahić
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (A.T.); (M.S.); (L.H.); (J.H.)
| | - Amina Tucak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (A.T.); (M.S.); (L.H.); (J.H.)
| | - Naida Omerović
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
| | - Merima Sirbubalo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (A.T.); (M.S.); (L.H.); (J.H.)
| | - Lamija Hindija
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (A.T.); (M.S.); (L.H.); (J.H.)
| | - Jasmina Hadžiabdić
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (A.T.); (M.S.); (L.H.); (J.H.)
| | - Edina Vranić
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (A.T.); (M.S.); (L.H.); (J.H.)
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Xuan W, Moothedathu AA, Meng T, Gibson DC, Zheng J, Xu Q. 3D engineering for optic neuropathy treatment. Drug Discov Today 2020; 26:181-188. [PMID: 33038525 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Ocular disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and glaucoma, can cause irreversible visual loss, and affect the quality of life of millions of patients. However, only very few 3D systems can mimic human ocular pathophysiology, especially the retinal degenerative diseases, which involve the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), photoreceptors, or retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEs). In this review, we discuss current progress in the 3D modeling of ocular tissues, and review the use of the aforementioned technologies for optic neuropathy treatment according to the categories of associated disease models and their applications in drug screening, mechanism studies, and cell and gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Xuan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Aji Alex Moothedathu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Tuo Meng
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - David C Gibson
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Jinhua Zheng
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Qingguo Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Ophthalmology, Center for Pharmaceutical Engineering, Massey Cancer Center, and Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery & Development (ISB3D), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
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Carullo G, Federico S, Relitti N, Gemma S, Butini S, Campiani G. Retinitis Pigmentosa and Retinal Degenerations: Deciphering Pathways and Targets for Drug Discovery and Development. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:2173-2191. [PMID: 32589402 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a group of retinopathies generally caused by genetic mutations. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) represents one of the most studied IRDs. RP leads to intense vision loss or blindness resulting from the degeneration of photoreceptor cells. To date, RP is mainly treated with palliative supplementation of vitamin A and retinoids, gene therapies, or surgical interventions. Therefore, a pharmacologically based therapy is an urgent need requiring a medicinal chemistry approach, to validate molecular targets able to deal with retinal degeneration. This Review aims at outlining the recent research efforts in identifying new drug targets for RP, especially focusing on the neuroprotective role of the Wnt/β-catenin/GSK3β pathway and apoptosis modulators (in particular PARP-1) but also on growth factors such as VEGF and BDNF. Furthermore, the role of spatiotemporally expressed G protein-coupled receptors (GPR124) in the retina and the emerging function of histone deacetylase inhibitors in promoting retinal neuroprotection will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Carullo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018−2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Stefano Federico
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018−2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Nicola Relitti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018−2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018−2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018−2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Department of Excellence 2018−2022, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Brighi C, Cordella F, Chiriatti L, Soloperto A, Di Angelantonio S. Retinal and Brain Organoids: Bridging the Gap Between in vivo Physiology and in vitro Micro-Physiology for the Study of Alzheimer's Diseases. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:655. [PMID: 32625060 PMCID: PMC7311765 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent progress in tissue engineering has led to increasingly complex approaches to investigate human neurodegenerative diseases in vitro, such as Alzheimer's disease, aiming to provide more functional and physiological models for the study of their pathogenesis, and possibly the identification of novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical and retinal organoids represent a novel class of in vitro three-dimensional models capable to recapitulate with a high similarity the structure and the complexity of the native brain and retinal tissues, thus providing a framework for better mimicking in a dish the patient's disease features. This review aims to discuss progress made over the years in the field of in vitro three-dimensional cell culture systems, and the benefits and disadvantages related to a possible application of organoids for the study of neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease, providing a promising breakthrough toward a personalized medicine approach and the reduction in the use of humanized animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Brighi
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Cordella
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Chiriatti
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Understanding the genetic architecture of human retinal degenerations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:3904-3906. [PMID: 32034100 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1922925117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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