1
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Flores-Bellver M, Canto-Soler MV. Generation of Induced-Primary Retinal Pigment Epithelium from Human Retinal Organoids. Methods Mol Biol 2025; 2848:197-214. [PMID: 39240525 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4087-6_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) serve multiple roles, including among others, modeling RPE development in normal and pathological conditions, investigating mechanisms of RPE physiology, modeling retinal diseases involving the RPE, and developing strategies for regenerative therapies. We have developed a simple and efficient protocol to generate RPE tissue from human iPSCs-derived retinal organoids. The RPE tissue present in the retinal organoids is analogous to the native human RPE in differentiation timeline, histological organization, and key features of functional maturation. Building upon this system, we established a method to generate functionally mature, polarized RPE monolayers comparable to human primary RPE. This comprehensive protocol outlines the steps for isolating and culturing RPE tissue using retinal organoids. The outcome is a pure population of cells expressing mature RPE signatures and organized in a characteristic cobblestone monolayer featuring robust ultrastructural polarization. These RPE monolayers also exhibit the functional hallmarks of bona fide mature RPE cells, providing a suitable system to mimic the biology and function of the native human RPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Flores-Bellver
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - M Valeria Canto-Soler
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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2
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Tian Z, Liu Q, Lin HY, Zhu YR, Ling L, Sung TC, Wang T, Li W, Gao M, Cheng S, Renuka RR, Subbiah SK, Fan G, Wu GJ, Higuchi A. Effects of ECM protein-coated surfaces on the generation of retinal pigment epithelium cells differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells. Regen Biomater 2024; 11:rbae091. [PMID: 39233867 PMCID: PMC11374035 DOI: 10.1093/rb/rbae091] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Retinal degeneration diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), initially manifest as dysfunction or death of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Subretinal transplantation of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived RPE cells has emerged as a potential therapy for retinal degeneration. However, RPE cells differentiated from hPSCs using current protocols are xeno-containing and are rarely applied in clinical trials. The development of hPSC-derived RPE cell differentiation protocols using xeno-free biomaterials is urgently needed for clinical applications. In this study, two protocols (the activin A and NIC84 protocols) were selected for modification and use in the differentiation of hiPSCs into RPE cells; the chetomin concentration was gradually increased to achieve high differentiation efficiency of RPE cells. The xeno-free extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, laminin-511, laminin-521 and recombinant vitronectin, were selected as plate-coating substrates, and a Matrigel (xeno-containing ECM)-coated surface was used as a positive control. Healthy, mature hPSC-derived RPE cells were transplanted into 21-day-old Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats, a model of retinal degeneration disease. The visual function of RCS rats was evaluated by optomotor response (qOMR) and electroretinography after transplantation of hPSC-derived RPE cells. Our study demonstrated that hPSCs can be efficiently differentiated into RPE cells on LN521-coated dishes using the NIC84 protocol, and that subretinal transplantation of the cell suspensions can delay the progression of vision loss in RCS rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Hui-Yu Lin
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan, China
| | - Yu-Ru Zhu
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan, China
| | - Ling Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Tzu-Cheng Sung
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Wanqi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Min Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Sitian Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Remya Rajan Renuka
- Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 602105, India
| | - Suresh Kumar Subbiah
- Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 602105, India
| | - Guoping Fan
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Gwo-Jang Wu
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan, China
| | - Akon Higuchi
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan, China
- R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli, Taoyuan 320, Taiwan, China
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3
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Rzhanova LA, Markitantova YV, Aleksandrova MA. Recent Achievements in the Heterogeneity of Mammalian and Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium: In Search of a Stem Cell. Cells 2024; 13:281. [PMID: 38334673 PMCID: PMC10854871 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells are important fundamentally for the development and function of the retina. In this regard, the study of the morphological and molecular properties of RPE cells, as well as their regenerative capabilities, is of particular importance for biomedicine. However, these studies are complicated by the fact that, despite the external morphological similarity of RPE cells, the RPE is a population of heterogeneous cells, the molecular genetic properties of which have begun to be revealed by sequencing methods only in recent years. This review carries out an analysis of the data from morphological and molecular genetic studies of the heterogeneity of RPE cells in mammals and humans, which reveals the individual differences in the subpopulations of RPE cells and the possible specificity of their functions. Particular attention is paid to discussing the properties of "stemness," proliferation, and plasticity in the RPE, which may be useful for uncovering the mechanisms of retinal diseases associated with pathologies of the RPE and finding new ways of treating them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuliya V. Markitantova
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 26 Vavilov Street, 119334 Moscow, Russia; (L.A.R.); (M.A.A.)
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4
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Gupta S, Lytvynchuk L, Ardan T, Studenovska H, Sharma R, Faura G, Eide L, Shanker Verma R, Znaor L, Erceg S, Stieger K, Motlik J, Petrovski G, Bharti K. Progress in Stem Cells-Based Replacement Therapy for Retinal Pigment Epithelium: In Vitro Differentiation to In Vivo Delivery. Stem Cells Transl Med 2023; 12:536-552. [PMID: 37459045 PMCID: PMC10427969 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szad039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a critical cell monolayer forming the blood-retina-barrier (BRB) and a permeable bridge between the choriocapillaris and the retina. RPE is also crucial in maintaining photoreceptor function and for completing the visual cycle. Loss of the RPE is associated with the development of degenerative diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD). To treat diseases like AMD, pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE (pRPE) has been recently explored extensively as a regenerative module. pRPE like other ectodermal tissues requires specific lineage differentiation and long-term in vitro culturing for maturation. Therefore, understanding the differentiation process of RPE could be useful for stem cell-based RPE derivation. Developing pRPE-based transplants and delivering them into the subretinal space is another aspect that has garnered interest in the last decade. In this review, we discuss the basic strategies currently employed for stem cell-based RPE derivation, their delivery, and recent clinical studies related to pRPE transplantation in patients. We have also discussed a few limitations with in vitro RPE culture and potential solutions to overcome such problems which can be helpful in developing functional RPE tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Gupta
- Center for Eye Research and Innovative Diagnostics, Department of Ophthalmology, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lyubomyr Lytvynchuk
- Department of Ophthalmology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Giessen, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Karl Landsteiner Institute for Retinal Research and Imaging, Vienna, Austria
| | - Taras Ardan
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Cell Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Studenovska
- Department of Biomaterials and Bioanalogous Systems, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ruchi Sharma
- Ocular and Stem Cell Translational Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Georgina Faura
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars Eide
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rama Shanker Verma
- Stem Cell and Molecular Biology, Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences. Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ljubo Znaor
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Split School of Medicine and University Hospital Centre, Split, Croatia
| | - Slaven Erceg
- Research Center “Principe Felipe,” Stem Cell Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Knut Stieger
- Department of Ophthalmology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jan Motlik
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Cell Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Goran Petrovski
- Center for Eye Research and Innovative Diagnostics, Department of Ophthalmology, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Split School of Medicine and University Hospital Centre, Split, Croatia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kapil Bharti
- Ocular and Stem Cell Translational Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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5
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Liu Q, Liu J, Higuchi A. hPSC-derived RPE transplantation for the treatment of macular degeneration. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 199:227-269. [PMID: 37678973 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Macular degeneration (MD) is a group of diseases characterized by irreversible and progressive vision loss. Patients with MD suffer from severely impaired central vision, especially elderly people. Currently, only one type of MD, wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), can be treated with anti-vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) drugs. Other types of MD remain difficult to treat. With the advent of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and their differentiation into retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), it is promising to treat patients with MD by transplantation of hPSC-derived RPE into the subretinal space. In this review, the current progress in hPSC-derived RPE transplantation for the treatment of patients with MD is described from bench to bedside, including hPSC differentiation into RPE and the characterization and usage of hPSC-derived RPE for transplantation into patients with MD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Jun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Akon Higuchi
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China; Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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6
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Hall JC, Paull D, Pébay A, Lidgerwood GE. Human pluripotent stem cells for the modelling of retinal pigment epithelium homeostasis and disease: A review. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2022; 50:667-677. [PMID: 35739648 PMCID: PMC9546239 DOI: 10.1111/ceo.14128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which include induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells, are powerful tools for studying human development, physiology and disease, including those affecting the retina. Cells from selected individuals, or specific genetic backgrounds, can be differentiated into distinct cell types allowing the modelling of diseases in a dish for therapeutic development. hPSC‐derived retinal cultures have already been used to successfully model retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration for various retinal diseases including monogenic conditions and complex disease such as age‐related macular degeneration. Here, we will review the current knowledge gained in understanding the molecular events involved in retinal disease using hPSC‐derived retinal models, in particular RPE models. We will provide examples of various conditions to illustrate the scope of applications associated with the use of hPSC‐derived RPE models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna C Hall
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Daniel Paull
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute New York New York USA
| | - Alice Pébay
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
- Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Grace E. Lidgerwood
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
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7
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Senabouth A, Daniszewski M, Lidgerwood GE, Liang HH, Hernández D, Mirzaei M, Keenan SN, Zhang R, Han X, Neavin D, Rooney L, Lopez Sanchez MIG, Gulluyan L, Paulo JA, Clarke L, Kearns LS, Gnanasambandapillai V, Chan CL, Nguyen U, Steinmann AM, McCloy RA, Farbehi N, Gupta VK, Mackey DA, Bylsma G, Verma N, MacGregor S, Watt MJ, Guymer RH, Powell JE, Hewitt AW, Pébay A. Transcriptomic and proteomic retinal pigment epithelium signatures of age-related macular degeneration. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4233. [PMID: 35882847 PMCID: PMC9325891 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31707-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
There are currently no treatments for geographic atrophy, the advanced form of age-related macular degeneration. Hence, innovative studies are needed to model this condition and prevent or delay its progression. Induced pluripotent stem cells generated from patients with geographic atrophy and healthy individuals were differentiated to retinal pigment epithelium. Integrating transcriptional profiles of 127,659 retinal pigment epithelium cells generated from 43 individuals with geographic atrophy and 36 controls with genotype data, we identify 445 expression quantitative trait loci in cis that are asssociated with disease status and specific to retinal pigment epithelium subpopulations. Transcriptomics and proteomics approaches identify molecular pathways significantly upregulated in geographic atrophy, including in mitochondrial functions, metabolic pathways and extracellular cellular matrix reorganization. Five significant protein quantitative trait loci that regulate protein expression in the retinal pigment epithelium and in geographic atrophy are identified - two of which share variants with cis- expression quantitative trait loci, including proteins involved in mitochondrial biology and neurodegeneration. Investigation of mitochondrial metabolism confirms mitochondrial dysfunction as a core constitutive difference of the retinal pigment epithelium from patients with geographic atrophy. This study uncovers important differences in retinal pigment epithelium homeostasis associated with geographic atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Senabouth
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Maciej Daniszewski
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
| | - Grace E Lidgerwood
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
| | - Helena H Liang
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
| | - Damián Hernández
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Stacey N Keenan
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Ran Zhang
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Xikun Han
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Drew Neavin
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Louise Rooney
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | | | - Lerna Gulluyan
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Linda Clarke
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
| | - Lisa S Kearns
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
| | | | - Chia-Ling Chan
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Uyen Nguyen
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Angela M Steinmann
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Rachael A McCloy
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Nona Farbehi
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Vivek K Gupta
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - David A Mackey
- Lions Eye Institute, Centre for Vision Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia
| | - Guy Bylsma
- Lions Eye Institute, Centre for Vision Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Nitin Verma
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia
| | - Stuart MacGregor
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Matthew J Watt
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Robyn H Guymer
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, The University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
| | - Joseph E Powell
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
- UNSW Cellular Genomics Futures Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia.
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia.
- Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, The University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia.
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Alice Pébay
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia.
- Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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8
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Nguyen T, Urrutia-Cabrera D, Liou RHC, Luu CD, Guymer R, Wong RCB. New Technologies to Study Functional Genomics of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:604220. [PMID: 33505962 PMCID: PMC7829507 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.604220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss in people over 50 years old in developed countries. Currently, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the genetic factors contributing to AMD, which is critical to identify effective therapeutic targets to improve treatment outcomes for AMD patients. Here we discuss the latest technologies that can facilitate the identification and functional study of putative genes in AMD pathology. We review improved genomic methods to identify novel AMD genes, advances in single cell transcriptomics to profile gene expression in specific retinal cell types, and summarize recent development of in vitro models for studying AMD using induced pluripotent stem cells, organoids and biomaterials, as well as new molecular technologies using CRISPR/Cas that could facilitate functional studies of AMD-associated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tu Nguyen
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Daniel Urrutia-Cabrera
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Roxanne Hsiang-Chi Liou
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Chi D Luu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Robyn Guymer
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Raymond Ching-Bong Wong
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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9
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Lidgerwood GE, Senabouth A, Smith-Anttila CJA, Gnanasambandapillai V, Kaczorowski DC, Amann-Zalcenstein D, Fletcher EL, Naik SH, Hewitt AW, Powell JE, Pébay A. Transcriptomic Profiling of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium over Time. GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2020; 19:223-242. [PMID: 33307245 PMCID: PMC8602392 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived progenies are immature versions of cells, presenting a potential limitation to the accurate modelling of diseases associated with maturity or age. Hence, it is important to characterise how closely cells used in culture resemble their native counterparts. In order to select appropriate time points of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cultures that reflect native counterparts, we characterised the transcriptomic profiles of the hPSC-derived RPE cells from 1- and 12-month cultures. We differentiated the human embryonic stem cell line H9 into RPE cells, performed single-cell RNA-sequencing of a total of 16,576 cells to assess the molecular changes of the RPE cells across these two culture time points. Our results indicate the stability of the RPE transcriptomic signature, with no evidence of an epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and with the maturing populations of the RPE observed with time in culture. Assessment of Gene Ontology pathways revealed that as the cultures age, RPE cells upregulate expression of genes involved in metal binding and antioxidant functions. This might reflect an increased ability to handle oxidative stress as cells mature. Comparison with native human RPE data confirms a maturing transcriptional profile of RPE cells in culture. These results suggest that long-term in vitro culture of RPE cells allows the modelling of specific phenotypes observed in native mature tissues. Our work highlights the transcriptional landscape of hPSC-derived RPE cells as they age in culture, which provides a reference for native and patient samples to be benchmarked against.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace E Lidgerwood
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia.
| | - Anne Senabouth
- Garvan Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Casey J A Smith-Anttila
- Single Cell Open Research Endeavour, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Vikkitharan Gnanasambandapillai
- Garvan Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Dominik C Kaczorowski
- Garvan Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Daniela Amann-Zalcenstein
- Single Cell Open Research Endeavour, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Erica L Fletcher
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Shalin H Naik
- Single Cell Open Research Endeavour, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia; School of Medicine, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, Australia
| | - Joseph E Powell
- Garvan Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; UNSW Cellular Genomics Futures Institute, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Alice Pébay
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia.
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10
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Neuronal Reprogramming for Tissue Repair and Neuroregeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124273. [PMID: 32560072 PMCID: PMC7352898 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell and cell reprogramming technology represent a rapidly growing field in regenerative medicine. A number of novel neural reprogramming methods have been established, using pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) or direct reprogramming, to efficiently derive specific neuronal cell types for therapeutic applications. Both in vitro and in vivo cellular reprogramming provide diverse therapeutic pathways for modeling neurological diseases and injury repair. In particular, the retina has emerged as a promising target for clinical application of regenerative medicine. Herein, we review the potential of neuronal reprogramming to develop regenerative strategy, with a particular focus on treating retinal degenerative diseases and discuss future directions and challenges in the field.
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11
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Chung SH, Shen W, Davidson KC, Pébay A, Wong RCB, Yau B, Gillies M. Differentiation of Retinal Glial Cells From Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Promoting the Notch Signaling Pathway. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:527. [PMID: 31849614 PMCID: PMC6901827 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of retinal glial cells, particularly Müller cells, has been implicated in several retinal diseases. Despite their important contribution to retinal homeostasis, a specific way to differentiate retinal glial cells from human pluripotent stem cells has not yet been described. Here, we report a method to differentiate retinal glial cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) through promoting the Notch signaling pathway. We first generated retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) from hESCs then promoted the Notch signaling pathway using Notch ligands, including Delta-like ligand 4 and Jagged-1. We validated glial cell differentiation with qRT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, western blots and fluorescence-activated cell sorting as we promoted Notch signaling in RPCs. We found that promoting Notch signaling in RPCs for 2 weeks led to upregulation of glial cell markers, including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), glutamine synthetase, vimentin and cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP). Of these markers, we found the greatest increase in expression of the pan glial cell marker, GFAP. Conversely, we also found that inhibition of Notch signaling in RPCs led to upregulation of retinal neuronal markers including cone-rod homeobox (CRX) and orthodenticle homeobox 2 (OTX2) but with little expression of GFAP. This retinal glial differentiation method will help advance the generation of stem cell disease models to study the pathogenesis of retinal diseases associated with glial dysfunction such as macular telangiectasia type 2. This method may also be useful for the development of future therapeutics such as drug screening and gene editing using patient-derived retinal glial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sook Hyun Chung
- Save Sight Institute, Department of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Weiyong Shen
- Save Sight Institute, Department of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kathryn C Davidson
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alice Pébay
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Raymond C B Wong
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Belinda Yau
- Save Sight Institute, Department of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mark Gillies
- Save Sight Institute, Department of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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12
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Suzuki S, Shadforth AM, McLenachan S, Zhang D, Chen SC, Walshe J, Lidgerwood GE, Pébay A, Chirila TV, Chen FK, Harkin DG. Optimization of silk fibroin membranes for retinal implantation. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2019; 105:110131. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2019.110131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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13
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Ben M’Barek K, Habeler W, Regent F, Monville C. Developing Cell-Based Therapies for RPE-Associated Degenerative Eye Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1186:55-97. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-28471-8_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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14
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Lidgerwood GE, Hewitt AW, Pébay A. Human pluripotent stem cells for the modelling of diseases of the retina and optic nerve: toward a retina in a dish. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2019; 48:114-119. [PMID: 31590110 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into specific, relevant cell types of interest including the cells of the retina and optic nerve. These cells can then be used to study fundamental biology as well as disease modelling and subsequent screening of potential treatments. Many models of differentiation and modelling have relied on two-dimensional monocultures of specific cell types, which are not representative of the complexity of the human retina and optic nerve. Hence, more complex models of the human retina and optic nerve are required. Three-dimensional organoids and emerging cell culture methods may provide more physiologically relevant models to study developmental biology and pathology of the retina and optic nerve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace E Lidgerwood
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia; School of Medicine, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Alice Pébay
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
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15
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Automation of human pluripotent stem cell differentiation toward retinal pigment epithelial cells for large-scale productions. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10646. [PMID: 31337830 PMCID: PMC6650487 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47123-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction or death of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is involved in some forms of Retinitis Pigmentosa and in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Since there is no cure for most patients affected by these diseases, the transplantation of RPE cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represents an attractive therapeutic alternative. First attempts to transplant hPSC-RPE cells in AMD and Stargardt patients demonstrated the safety and suggested the potential efficacy of this strategy. However, it also highlighted the need to upscale the production of the cells to be grafted in order to treat the millions of potential patients. Automated cell culture systems are necessary to change the scale of cell production. In the present study, we developed a protocol amenable for automation that combines in a sequential manner Nicotinamide, Activin A and CHIR99021 to direct the differentiation of hPSCs into RPE cells. This novel differentiation protocol associated with the use of cell culture robots open new possibilities for the production of large batches of hPSC-RPE cells while maintaining a high cell purity and functionality. Such methodology of cell culture automation could therefore be applied to various differentiation processes in order to generate the material suitable for cell therapy.
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16
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Cell Therapy for Retinal Dystrophies: From Cell Suspension Formulation to Complex Retinal Tissue Bioengineering. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:4568979. [PMID: 30809263 PMCID: PMC6364130 DOI: 10.1155/2019/4568979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degeneration is an irreversible phenomenon caused by various disease conditions including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). During the course of these diseases, photoreceptors (PRs) are susceptible to degeneration due to their malfunctions or to a primary dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Once lost, these cells could not be endogenously regenerated in humans, and cell therapy to replace the lost cells is one of the promising strategies to recover vision. Depending on the nature of the primary defect and the stage of the disease, RPE cells, PRs, or both might be transplanted to achieve therapeutic effects. We describe in this review the current knowledge and recent progress to develop such approaches. The different cell sources proposed for cell therapy including human pluripotent stem cells are presented with their advantages and limits. Another critical aspect described herein is the pharmaceutical formulation of the end product to be delivered into the eye of patients. Finally, we also outline the future research directions in order to develop a complex multilayered retinal tissue for end-stage patients.
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17
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Lidgerwood GE, Morris AJ, Conquest A, Daniszewski M, Rooney LA, Lim SY, Hernández D, Liang HH, Allen P, Connell PP, Guymer RH, Hewitt AW, Pébay A. Role of lysophosphatidic acid in the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2018; 1863:750-761. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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18
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Lu AQ, Barnstable CJ. Generation of Photoreceptor Precursors from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2017; 14:247-261. [DOI: 10.1007/s12015-017-9773-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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19
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Crombie DE, Daniszewski M, Liang HH, Kulkarni T, Li F, Lidgerwood GE, Conquest A, Hernández D, Hung SS, Gill KP, De Smit E, Kearns LS, Clarke L, Sluch VM, Chamling X, Zack DJ, Wong RCB, Hewitt AW, Pébay A. Development of a Modular Automated System for Maintenance and Differentiation of Adherent Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. SLAS DISCOVERY 2017; 22:1016-1025. [PMID: 28287872 DOI: 10.1177/2472555217696797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have tremendous potential for development of regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug discovery. However, the processes of reprogramming, maintenance, and differentiation are labor intensive and subject to intertechnician variability. To address these issues, we established and optimized protocols to allow for the automated maintenance of reprogrammed somatic cells into iPSCs to enable the large-scale culture and passaging of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) using a customized TECAN Freedom EVO. Generation of iPSCs was performed offline by nucleofection followed by selection of TRA-1-60-positive cells using a Miltenyi MultiMACS24 Separator. Pluripotency markers were assessed to confirm pluripotency of the generated iPSCs. Passaging was performed using an enzyme-free dissociation method. Proof of concept of differentiation was obtained by differentiating human PSCs into cells of the retinal lineage. Key advantages of this automated approach are the ability to increase sample size, reduce variability during reprogramming or differentiation, and enable medium- to high-throughput analysis of human PSCs and derivatives. These techniques will become increasingly important with the emergence of clinical trials using stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan E Crombie
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Co-first authors
| | - Maciej Daniszewski
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Co-first authors
| | - Helena H Liang
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tejal Kulkarni
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fan Li
- 2 School of Medicine, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.,3 State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Grace E Lidgerwood
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alison Conquest
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Damian Hernández
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sandy S Hung
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katherine P Gill
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elisabeth De Smit
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lisa S Kearns
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Linda Clarke
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Valentin M Sluch
- 4 Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xitiz Chamling
- 4 Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Donald J Zack
- 4 Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,5 Departments of Neuroscience, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Raymond C B Wong
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,2 School of Medicine, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.,Co-senior authors
| | - Alice Pébay
- 1 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital & Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Co-senior authors
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20
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Choudhary P, Booth H, Gutteridge A, Surmacz B, Louca I, Steer J, Kerby J, Whiting PJ. Directing Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Toward Retinal Pigment Epithelium Lineage. Stem Cells Transl Med 2016; 6:490-501. [PMID: 28191760 PMCID: PMC5442825 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2016-0088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of efficient and reproducible conditions for directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into specific cell types is important not only to understand early human development but also to enable more practical applications, such as in vitro disease modeling, drug discovery, and cell therapies. The differentiation of stem cells to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in particular holds promise as a source of cells for therapeutic replacement in age‐related macular degeneration. Here we show development of an efficient method for deriving homogeneous RPE populations in a period of 45 days using an adherent, monolayer system and defined xeno‐free media and matrices. The method utilizes sequential inhibition and activation of the Activin and bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways and can be applied to both human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells as the starting population. In addition, we use whole genome transcript analysis to characterize cells at different stages of differentiation that provides further understanding of the developmental dynamics and fate specification of RPE. We show that with the described method, RPE develop through stages consistent with their formation during embryonic development. This characterization— together with the absence of steps involving embryoid bodies, three‐dimensional culture, or manual dissections, which are common features of other protocols—makes this process very attractive for use in research as well as for clinical applications. Stem Cells Translational Medicine2017;6:490–501
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Affiliation(s)
- Parul Choudhary
- Pfizer Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Heather Booth
- Pfizer Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Gutteridge
- Pfizer Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Beata Surmacz
- Pfizer Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Louca
- Pfizer Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Juliette Steer
- Pfizer Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Julie Kerby
- Pfizer Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paul John Whiting
- Pfizer Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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