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Selvarajah K, Tan JJ, Shaharuddin B. Corneal Epithelial Development and the Role of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Regeneration. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 19:292-306. [PMID: 36915985 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x18666230313094121] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Severe corneal disorders due to infective aetiologies, trauma, chemical injuries, and chronic cicatricial inflammations, are among vision-threatening pathologies leading to permanent corneal scarring. The whole cornea or lamellar corneal transplantation is often used as a last resort to restore vision. However, limited autologous tissue sources and potential adverse post-allotransplantation sequalae urge the need for more robust and strategic alternatives. Contemporary management using cultivated corneal epithelial transplantation has paved the way for utilizing stem cells as a regenerative potential. Humaninduced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can generate ectodermal progenitors and potentially be used for ocular surface regeneration. This review summarizes the process of corneal morphogenesis and the signaling pathways underlying the development of corneal epithelium, which is key to translating the maturation and differentiation process of hiPSCs in vitro. The current state of knowledge and methodology for driving efficient corneal epithelial cell differentiation from pluripotent stem cells are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komathi Selvarajah
- Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (AIMST) University, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Jun Jie Tan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (AIMST) University, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Bakiah Shaharuddin
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (AIMST) University, Kedah, Malaysia
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da Mata Martins TM, de Carvalho JL, da Silva Cunha P, Gomes DA, de Goes AM. Induction of Corneal Epithelial Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent and Orbital Fat-Derived Stem Cells Seeded on Decellularized Human Corneas. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2022; 18:2522-2534. [PMID: 35247143 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10356-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Up to 40% of donor corneas are deemed unsuitable for transplantation, aggravating the shortage of graft tissue. In most cases, the corneal extracellular matrix is intact. Therefore, their decellularization followed by repopulation with autologous cells may constitute an efficient alternative to reduce the amount of discarded tissue and the risk of immune rejection after transplantation. Although induced pluripotent (hiPSCs) and orbital fat-derived stem cells (OFSCs) hold great promise for corneal epithelial (CE) reconstruction, no study to date has evaluated the capacity of decellularized corneas (DCs) to support the attachment and differentiation of these cells into CE-like cells. Here, we recellularize DCs with hiPSCs and OFSCs and evaluate their differentiation potential into CE-like cells using animal serum-free culture conditions. Cell viability and adhesion on DCs were assessed by calcein-AM staining and scanning electron microscopy. Cell differentiation was evaluated by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence analyses. DCs successfully supported the adhesion and survival of hiPSCs and OFSCs. The OFSCs cultured under differentiation conditions could not express the CE markers, TP63, KRT3, PAX6, and KRT12, while the hiPSCs gave rise to cells expressing high levels of these markers. RT-qPCR data suggested that the DCs provided an inductive environment for CE differentiation of hiPSCs, supporting the expression of PAX6 and KRT12 without the need for any soluble induction factors. Our results open the avenue for future studies regarding the in vivo effects of DCs as carriers for autologous cell transplantation for ocular surface reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Maria da Mata Martins
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil.
| | - Juliana Lott de Carvalho
- Department of Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasilia, QS 07 - Lote 01, EPCT - Taguatinga, Brasília, Distrito Federal, 71966-700, Brazil.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Distrito Federal, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Pricila da Silva Cunha
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil.,Department of Biology, Minas Gerais State University, Avenida Olegário Maciel, 1427, Ubá, Minas Gerais, 36502-002, Brazil
| | - Dawidson Assis Gomes
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Alfredo Miranda de Goes
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
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Theerakittayakorn K, Thi Nguyen H, Musika J, Kunkanjanawan H, Imsoonthornruksa S, Somredngan S, Ketudat-Cairns M, Parnpai R. Differentiation Induction of Human Stem Cells for Corneal Epithelial Regeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7834. [PMID: 33105778 PMCID: PMC7660084 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Deficiency of corneal epithelium causes vision impairment or blindness in severe cases. Transplantation of corneal epithelial cells is an effective treatment but the availability of the tissue source for those cells is inadequate. Stem cells can be induced to differentiate to corneal epithelial cells and used in the treatment. Multipotent stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells) and pluripotent stem cells (embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) are promising cells to address the problem. Various protocols have been developed to induce differentiation of the stem cells into corneal epithelial cells. The feasibility and efficacy of both human stem cells and animal stem cells have been investigated for corneal epithelium regeneration. However, some physiological aspects of animal stem cells are different from those of human stem cells, the protocols suited for animal stem cells might not be suitable for human stem cells. Therefore, in this review, only the investigations of corneal epithelial differentiation of human stem cells are taken into account. The available protocols for inducing the differentiation of human stem cells into corneal epithelial cells are gathered and compared. Also, the pathways involving in the differentiation are provided to elucidate the relevant mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasem Theerakittayakorn
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (K.T.); (H.T.N.); (J.M.); (S.I.); (S.S.); (M.K.-C.)
| | - Hong Thi Nguyen
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (K.T.); (H.T.N.); (J.M.); (S.I.); (S.S.); (M.K.-C.)
| | - Jidapa Musika
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (K.T.); (H.T.N.); (J.M.); (S.I.); (S.S.); (M.K.-C.)
| | - Hataiwan Kunkanjanawan
- Medeze Research and Development Co., Ltd. 28/9 Moo 8, Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Rd., Krathum Lom, Sam Phran, Nakhon Pathom 73220, Thailand;
| | - Sumeth Imsoonthornruksa
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (K.T.); (H.T.N.); (J.M.); (S.I.); (S.S.); (M.K.-C.)
| | - Sirilak Somredngan
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (K.T.); (H.T.N.); (J.M.); (S.I.); (S.S.); (M.K.-C.)
| | - Mariena Ketudat-Cairns
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (K.T.); (H.T.N.); (J.M.); (S.I.); (S.S.); (M.K.-C.)
| | - Rangsun Parnpai
- Embryo Technology and Stem Cell Research Center, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; (K.T.); (H.T.N.); (J.M.); (S.I.); (S.S.); (M.K.-C.)
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Guo NN, Liu LP, Zheng YW, Li YM. Inducing human induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation through embryoid bodies: A practical and stable approach. World J Stem Cells 2020; 12:25-34. [PMID: 32110273 PMCID: PMC7031760 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v12.i1.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are invaluable resources for producing high-quality differentiated cells in unlimited quantities for both basic research and clinical use. They are particularly useful for studying human disease mechanisms in vitro by making it possible to circumvent the ethical issues of human embryonic stem cell research. However, significant limitations exist when using conventional flat culturing methods especially concerning cell expansion, differentiation efficiency, stability maintenance and multicellular 3D structure establishment, differentiation prediction. Embryoid bodies (EBs), the multicellular aggregates spontaneously generated from iPSCs in the suspension system, might help to address these issues. Due to the unique microenvironment and cell communication in EB structure that a 2D culture system cannot achieve, EBs have been widely applied in hiPSC-derived differentiation and show significant advantages especially in scaling up culturing, differentiation efficiency enhancement, ex vivo simulation, and organoid establishment. EBs can potentially also be used in early prediction of iPSC differentiation capability. To improve the stability and feasibility of EB-mediated differentiation and generate high quality EBs, critical factors including iPSC pluripotency maintenance, generation of uniform morphology using micro-pattern 3D culture systems, proper cellular density inoculation, and EB size control are discussed on the basis of both published data and our own laboratory experiences. Collectively, the production of a large quantity of homogeneous EBs with high quality is important for the stability and feasibility of many PSCs related studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning-Ning Guo
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Li-Ping Liu
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yun-Wen Zheng
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, University of Tsukuba Faculty of Medicine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
- Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa 234-0006, Japan
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Yu-Mei Li
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
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Foster JW, Wahlin KJ, Chakravarti S. A Guide to the Development of Human CorneaOrganoids from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Culture. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2145:51-58. [PMID: 32542600 PMCID: PMC7565088 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0599-8_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The cornea is the outermost transparent and refractive barrier surface of the eye necessary for vision. Development of the cornea involves the coordinated production of extracellular matrix, epithelial differentiation, and endothelial cell expansion to produce a highly transparent tissue. Here we describe the production of multilayered three-dimensional organoids from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. These organoids have the potential for multiple downstream applications which are currently unattainable using traditional in vitro techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W Foster
- The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Karl J Wahlin
- Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Shukti Chakravarti
- Department of Ophthalmology and Pathology, NYU Langone Health, Alexandria Life Sciences Center, New York, NY, USA.
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Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) provide a personalized approach to study conditions and diseases including those of the eye that lack appropriate animal models to facilitate the development of novel therapeutics. Corneal disease is one of the most common causes of blindness. Hence, significant efforts are made to develop novel therapeutic approaches including stem cell-derived strategies to replace the diseased or damaged corneal tissues, thus restoring the vision. The use of adult limbal stem cells in the management of corneal conditions has been clinically successful. However, its limited availability and phenotypic plasticity necessitate the need for alternative stem cell sources to manage corneal conditions. Mesenchymal and embryonic stem cell-based approaches are being explored; nevertheless, their limited differentiation potential and ethical concerns have posed a significant hurdle in its clinical use. hiPSCs have emerged to fill these technical and ethical gaps to render clinical utility. In this review, we discuss and summarize protocols that have been devised so far to direct differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to different corneal cell phenotypes. With the summarization, our review intends to facilitate an understanding which would allow developing efficient and robust protocols to obtain specific corneal cell phenotype from hPSCs for corneal disease modeling and for the clinics to treat corneal diseases and injury.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rohit Shetty
- Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Narayana Nethralaya, Bengaluru, India
| | - Arkasubhra Ghosh
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bengaluru, India
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Hongisto H, Vattulainen M, Ilmarinen T, Mikhailova A, Skottman H. Efficient and Scalable Directed Differentiation of Clinically Compatible Corneal Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 30417867 DOI: 10.3791/58279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) are responsible for continuously renewing the corneal epithelium, and thus maintaining corneal homeostasis and visual clarity. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived LESCs provide a promising cell source for corneal cell replacement therapy. Undefined, xenogeneic culture and differentiation conditions cause variation in research results and impede the clinical translation of hPSC-derived therapeutics. This protocol provides a reproducible and efficient method for hPSC-LESC differentiation under xeno- and feeder cell-free conditions. Firstly, monolayer culture of undifferentiated hPSC on recombinant laminin-521 (LN-521) and defined hPSC medium serves as a foundation for robust production of high-quality starting material for differentiations. Secondly, a rapid and simple hPSC-LESC differentiation method yields LESC populations in only 24 days. This method includes a four-day surface ectodermal induction in suspension with small molecules, followed by adherent culture phase on LN-521/collagen IV combination matrix in defined corneal epithelial differentiation medium. Cryostoring and extended differentiation further purifies the cell population and enables banking of the cells in large quantities for cell therapy products. The resulting high-quality hPSC-LESCs provide a potential novel treatment strategy for corneal surface reconstruction to treat limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Hongisto
- BioMediTech Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere;
| | - Meri Vattulainen
- BioMediTech Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere
| | - Tanja Ilmarinen
- BioMediTech Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere
| | - Alexandra Mikhailova
- Department of Ophthalmology, SILK, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere
| | - Heli Skottman
- BioMediTech Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere
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