1
|
Harkin J, Peña KH, Gomes C, Hernandez M, Lavekar SS, So K, Lentsch K, Feder EM, Morrow S, Huang KC, Tutrow KD, Morris A, Zhang C, Meyer JS. A highly reproducible and efficient method for retinal organoid differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317285121. [PMID: 38870053 PMCID: PMC11194494 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317285121] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived retinal organoids are three-dimensional cellular aggregates that differentiate and self-organize to closely mimic the spatial and temporal patterning of the developing human retina. Retinal organoid models serve as reliable tools for studying human retinogenesis, yet limitations in the efficiency and reproducibility of current retinal organoid differentiation protocols have reduced the use of these models for more high-throughput applications such as disease modeling and drug screening. To address these shortcomings, the current study aimed to standardize prior differentiation protocols to yield a highly reproducible and efficient method for generating retinal organoids. Results demonstrated that through regulation of organoid size and shape using quick reaggregation methods, retinal organoids were highly reproducible compared to more traditional methods. Additionally, the timed activation of BMP signaling within developing cells generated pure populations of retinal organoids at 100% efficiency from multiple widely used cell lines, with the default forebrain fate resulting from the inhibition of BMP signaling. Furthermore, given the ability to direct retinal or forebrain fates at complete purity, mRNA-seq analyses were then utilized to identify some of the earliest transcriptional changes that occur during the specification of these two lineages from a common progenitor. These improved methods also yielded retinal organoids with expedited differentiation timelines when compared to traditional methods. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate the development of a highly reproducible and minimally variable method for generating retinal organoids suitable for analyzing the earliest stages of human retinal cell fate specification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jade Harkin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Kiersten H. Peña
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Cátia Gomes
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Melody Hernandez
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Sailee S. Lavekar
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Kaman So
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Kelly Lentsch
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Elyse M. Feder
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Sarah Morrow
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Kang-Chieh Huang
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Kaylee D. Tutrow
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Ann Morris
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY40506
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
| | - Jason S. Meyer
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
- Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN46202
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kawai K, Ho MT, Ueno Y, Abdo D, Xue C, Nonaka H, Nishida H, Honma Y, Wallace VA, Shoichet MS. Hyaluronan improves photoreceptor differentiation and maturation in human retinal organoids. Acta Biomater 2024; 181:117-132. [PMID: 38705224 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.05.001] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Human stem cell-derived organoids enable both disease modeling and serve as a source of cells for transplantation. Human retinal organoids are particularly important as a source of human photoreceptors; however, the long differentiation period required and lack of vascularization in the organoid often results in a necrotic core and death of inner retinal cells before photoreceptors are fully mature. Manipulating the in vitro environment of differentiating retinal organoids through the incorporation of extracellular matrix components could influence retinal development. We investigated the addition of hyaluronan (HA), a component of the interphotoreceptor matrix, as an additive to promote long-term organoid survival and enhance retinal maturation. HA treatment had a significant reduction in the proportion of proliferating (Ki67+) cells and increase in the proportion of photoreceptors (CRX+), suggesting that HA accelerated photoreceptor commitment in vitro. HA significantly upregulated genes specific to photoreceptor maturation and outer segment development. Interestingly, prolonged HA-treatment significantly decreased the length of the brush border layer compared to those in control retinal organoids, where the photoreceptor outer segments reside; however, HA-treated organoids also had more mature outer segments with organized discs structures, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy. The brush border layer length was inversely proportional to the molar mass and viscosity of the hyaluronan added. This is the first study to investigate the role of exogenous HA, viscosity, and polymer molar mass on photoreceptor maturation, emphasizing the importance of material properties on organoid culture. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Retinal organoids are a powerful tool to study retinal development in vitro, though like many other organoid systems, can be highly variable. In this work, Shoichet and colleagues investigated the use of hyaluronan (HA), a native component of the interphotoreceptor matrix, to improve photoreceptor maturation in developing human retinal organoids. HA promoted human photoreceptor differentiation leading to mature outer segments with disc formation and more uniform and healthy retinal organoids. These findings highlight the importance of adding components native to the developing retina to generate more physiologically relevant photoreceptors for cell therapy and in vitro models to drive drug discovery and uncover novel disease mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kotoe Kawai
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan
| | - Margaret T Ho
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Yui Ueno
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Dhana Abdo
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Chang Xue
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Hidenori Nonaka
- Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nishida
- Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan
| | - Yoichi Honma
- Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan
| | - Valerie A Wallace
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Molly S Shoichet
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu W, Zhang C, Jiang F, Tan Y, Qin B. From theory to therapy: a bibliometric and visual study of stem cell advancements in age-related macular degeneration. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:616-631. [PMID: 38483361 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.02.022] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Human pluripotent stem cells, including embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, offer groundbreaking therapeutic potential for degenerative diseases and cellular repair. Despite their significance, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in this field, particularly in relation to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is yet to be conducted. This study aims to map the foundational and emerging areas in stem cell and AMD research through bibliometric analysis. METHODS This study analyzed articles and reviews on stem cells and AMD from 2000 to 2022, sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection. We used VOSviewer and CiteSpace for analysis and visualization of data pertaining to countries, institutions, authors, journals, references and key words. Statistical analyses were conducted using R language and Microsoft Excel 365. RESULTS In total, 539 publications were included, indicating an increase in global literature on stem cells and AMD from 2000 to 2022. The USA was the leading contributor, with 239 papers and the highest H-index, also the USA had the highest average citation rate per article (59.82). Notably, 50% of the top 10 institutions were from the USA, with the University of California system being the most productive. Key authors included Masayo Takahashi, Michiko Mandai, Dennis Clegg, Pete J. Coffey, Boris Stanzel, and Budd A. Tucker. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science published the majority of relevant papers (n = 27). Key words like "clinical trial," "stem cell therapy," "retinal organoid," and "retinal progenitor cells" were predominant. CONCLUSIONS Research on stem cells and AMD has grown significantly, highlighting the need for increased global cooperation. Current research prioritizes the relationship between "ipsc," "induced pluripotent stem cell," "cell culture," and "human embryonic stem cell." As stem cell culture and safety have advanced, focus has shifted to prognosis and complications post-transplantation, signifying the movement of stem cell research from labs to clinical settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yao Tan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; Postdoctoral Station of Clinical Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha City, China.
| | - Bo Qin
- Shenzhen Aier Eye Hospital, Aier Eye Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kurzawa-Akanbi M, Tzoumas N, Corral-Serrano JC, Guarascio R, Steel DH, Cheetham ME, Armstrong L, Lako M. Pluripotent stem cell-derived models of retinal disease: Elucidating pathogenesis, evaluating novel treatments, and estimating toxicity. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 100:101248. [PMID: 38369182 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101248] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Blindness poses a growing global challenge, with approximately 26% of cases attributed to degenerative retinal diseases. While gene therapy, optogenetic tools, photosensitive switches, and retinal prostheses offer hope for vision restoration, these high-cost therapies will benefit few patients. Understanding retinal diseases is therefore key to advance effective treatments, requiring in vitro models replicating pathology and allowing quantitative assessments for drug discovery. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) provide a unique solution given their limitless supply and ability to differentiate into light-responsive retinal tissues encompassing all cell types. This review focuses on the history and current state of photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell generation from PSCs. We explore the applications of this technology in disease modelling, experimental therapy testing, biomarker identification, and toxicity studies. We consider challenges in scalability, standardisation, and reproducibility, and stress the importance of incorporating vasculature and immune cells into retinal organoids. We advocate for high-throughput automation in data acquisition and analyses and underscore the value of advanced micro-physiological systems that fully capture the interactions between the neural retina, RPE, and choriocapillaris.
Collapse
|
5
|
Lin B, Singh RK, Seiler MJ, Nasonkin IO. Survival and Functional Integration of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Organoids After Shipping and Transplantation into Retinal Degeneration Rats. Stem Cells Dev 2024; 33:201-213. [PMID: 38390839 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2023.0257] [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] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Because derivation of retinal organoids (ROs) and transplantation are frequently split between geographically distant locations, we developed a special shipping device and protocol capable of the organoids' delivery to any location. Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived ROs were differentiated from the hESC line H1 (WA01), shipped overnight to another location, and then transplanted into the subretinal space of blind immunodeficient retinal degeneration (RD) rats. Development of transplants was monitored by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Visual function was accessed by optokinetic tests and superior colliculus (SC) electrophysiology. Cryostat sections through transplants were stained with hematoxylin and eosin; or processed for immunohistochemistry to label human donor cells, retinal cell types, and synaptic markers. After transplantation, ROs integrated into the host RD retina, formed functional photoreceptors, and improved vision in rats with advanced RD. The survival and vision improvement are comparable with our previous results of hESC-ROs without a long-distance delivery. Furthermore, for the first time in the stem cell transplantation field, we demonstrated that the response heatmap on the SC showed a similar shape to the location of the transplant in the host retina, which suggested the point-to-point projection of the transplant from the retina to SC. In conclusion, our results showed that using our special device and protocol, the hESC-derived ROs can be shipped over long distance and are capable of survival and visual improvement after transplantation into the RD rats. Our data provide a proof-of-concept for stem cell replacement as a therapy for RD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lin
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Sue and Bill Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | | | - Magdalene J Seiler
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Sue and Bill Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Otsuka Y, Imamura K, Oishi A, Asakawa K, Kondo T, Nakai R, Suga M, Inoue I, Sagara Y, Tsukita K, Teranaka K, Nishimura Y, Watanabe A, Umeyama K, Okushima N, Mitani K, Nagashima H, Kawakami K, Muguruma K, Tsujikawa A, Inoue H. Phototoxicity avoidance is a potential therapeutic approach for retinal dystrophy caused by EYS dysfunction. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e174179. [PMID: 38646933 PMCID: PMC11141876 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.174179] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are progressive diseases leading to vision loss. Mutation in the eyes shut homolog (EYS) gene is one of the most frequent causes of IRD. However, the mechanism of photoreceptor cell degeneration by mutant EYS has not been fully elucidated. Here, we generated retinal organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with EYS-associated retinal dystrophy (EYS-RD). In photoreceptor cells of RD organoids, both EYS and G protein-coupled receptor kinase 7 (GRK7), one of the proteins handling phototoxicity, were not in the outer segment, where they are physiologically present. Furthermore, photoreceptor cells in RD organoids were vulnerable to light stimuli, and especially to blue light. Mislocalization of GRK7, which was also observed in eys-knockout zebrafish, was reversed by delivering control EYS into photoreceptor cells of RD organoids. These findings suggest that avoiding phototoxicity would be a potential therapeutic approach for EYS-RD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Otsuka
- iPSC-based Drug discovery and Development Team, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Kyoto, Japan
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keiko Imamura
- iPSC-based Drug discovery and Development Team, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Kyoto, Japan
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akio Oishi
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kazuhide Asakawa
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kondo
- iPSC-based Drug discovery and Development Team, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Kyoto, Japan
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), Kyoto, Japan
| | - Risako Nakai
- iPSC-based Drug discovery and Development Team, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Kyoto, Japan
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mika Suga
- iPSC-based Drug discovery and Development Team, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Kyoto, Japan
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ikuyo Inoue
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukako Sagara
- iPSC-based Drug discovery and Development Team, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kayoko Tsukita
- iPSC-based Drug discovery and Development Team, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Kyoto, Japan
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kaori Teranaka
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yu Nishimura
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akira Watanabe
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Umeyama
- Meiji University International Institute for Bio-Resource Research, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Nanako Okushima
- Division of Systems Medicine and Gene Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kohnosuke Mitani
- Division of Systems Medicine and Gene Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nagashima
- Meiji University International Institute for Bio-Resource Research, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Koichi Kawakami
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Keiko Muguruma
- Department of iPS Cell Applied Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akitaka Tsujikawa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Haruhisa Inoue
- iPSC-based Drug discovery and Development Team, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Kyoto, Japan
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), Kyoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ho MT, Kawai K, Abdo D, Comanita L, Ortin-Martinez A, Ueno Y, Tsao E, Rastgar-Moghadam A, Xue C, Cui H, Wallace VA, Shoichet MS. Transplanted human photoreceptors transfer cytoplasmic material but not to the recipient mouse retina. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:79. [PMID: 38486269 PMCID: PMC10941468 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03679-3] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The discovery of material transfer between transplanted and host mouse photoreceptors has expanded the possibilities for utilizing transplanted photoreceptors as potential vehicles for delivering therapeutic cargo. However, previous research has not directly explored the capacity for human photoreceptors to engage in material transfer, as human photoreceptor transplantation has primarily been investigated in rodent models of late-stage retinal disease, which lack host photoreceptors. METHODS In this study, we transplanted human stem-cell derived photoreceptors purified from human retinal organoids at different ontological ages (weeks 10, 14, or 20) into mouse models with intact photoreceptors and assessed transfer of human proteins and organelles to mouse photoreceptors. RESULTS Unexpectedly, regardless of donor age or mouse recipient background, human photoreceptors did not transfer material in the mouse retina, though a rare subset of donor cells (< 5%) integrated into the mouse photoreceptor cell layer. To investigate the possibility that a species barrier impeded transfer, we used a flow cytometric assay to examine material transfer in vitro. Interestingly, dissociated human photoreceptors transferred fluorescent protein with each other in vitro, yet no transfer was detected in co-cultures of human and mouse photoreceptors, suggesting that material transfer is species specific. CONCLUSIONS While xenograft models are not a tractable system to study material transfer of human photoreceptors, these findings demonstrate that human retinal organoid-derived photoreceptors are competent donors for material transfer and thus may be useful to treat retinal degenerative disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret T Ho
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Kotoe Kawai
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto, 619-0216, Japan
| | - Dhana Abdo
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lacrimioara Comanita
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Arturo Ortin-Martinez
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Yui Ueno
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto, 619-0216, Japan
| | - Emily Tsao
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Azam Rastgar-Moghadam
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chang Xue
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Hong Cui
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Valerie A Wallace
- Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Molly S Shoichet
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E2, Canada.
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Liu YC, Chen P, Chang R, Liu X, Jhang JW, Enkhbat M, Chen S, Wang H, Deng C, Wang PY. Artificial tumor matrices and bioengineered tools for tumoroid generation. Biofabrication 2024; 16:022004. [PMID: 38306665 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad2534] [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: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for tumor growth and metastasis. The TME contains cancer-associated cells, tumor matrix, and tumor secretory factors. The fabrication of artificial tumors, so-called tumoroids, is of great significance for the understanding of tumorigenesis and clinical cancer therapy. The assembly of multiple tumor cells and matrix components through interdisciplinary techniques is necessary for the preparation of various tumoroids. This article discusses current methods for constructing tumoroids (tumor tissue slices and tumor cell co-culture) for pre-clinical use. This article focuses on the artificial matrix materials (natural and synthetic materials) and biofabrication techniques (cell assembly, bioengineered tools, bioprinting, and microfluidic devices) used in tumoroids. This article also points out the shortcomings of current tumoroids and potential solutions. This article aims to promotes the next-generation tumoroids and the potential of them in basic research and clinical application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Chiang Liu
- Oujiang Laboratory; Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Aging, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325024, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Chen
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, MOE Frontier Science Centre for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Ray Chang
- Oujiang Laboratory; Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Aging, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325024, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingjian Liu
- Oujiang Laboratory; Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Aging, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325024, People's Republic of China
| | - Jhe-Wei Jhang
- Oujiang Laboratory; Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Aging, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325024, People's Republic of China
| | - Myagmartsend Enkhbat
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Shan Chen
- Oujiang Laboratory; Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Aging, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325024, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongxia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuxia Deng
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, MOE Frontier Science Centre for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng-Yuan Wang
- Oujiang Laboratory; Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Aging, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325024, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
McDonald A, Wijnholds J. Retinal Ciliopathies and Potential Gene Therapies: A Focus on Human iPSC-Derived Organoid Models. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2887. [PMID: 38474133 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The human photoreceptor function is dependent on a highly specialised cilium. Perturbation of cilial function can often lead to death of the photoreceptor and loss of vision. Retinal ciliopathies are a genetically diverse range of inherited retinal disorders affecting aspects of the photoreceptor cilium. Despite advances in the understanding of retinal ciliopathies utilising animal disease models, they can often lack the ability to accurately mimic the observed patient phenotype, possibly due to structural and functional deviations from the human retina. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can be utilised to generate an alternative disease model, the 3D retinal organoid, which contains all major retinal cell types including photoreceptors complete with cilial structures. These retinal organoids facilitate the study of disease mechanisms and potential therapies in a human-derived system. Three-dimensional retinal organoids are still a developing technology, and despite impressive progress, several limitations remain. This review will discuss the state of hiPSC-derived retinal organoid technology for accurately modelling prominent retinal ciliopathies related to genes, including RPGR, CEP290, MYO7A, and USH2A. Additionally, we will discuss the development of novel gene therapy approaches targeting retinal ciliopathies, including the delivery of large genes and gene-editing techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew McDonald
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hadyniak SE, Hagen JFD, Eldred KC, Brenerman B, Hussey KA, McCoy RC, Sauria MEG, Kuchenbecker JA, Reh T, Glass I, Neitz M, Neitz J, Taylor J, Johnston RJ. Retinoic acid signaling regulates spatiotemporal specification of human green and red cones. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002464. [PMID: 38206904 PMCID: PMC10783767 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Trichromacy is unique to primates among placental mammals, enabled by blue (short/S), green (medium/M), and red (long/L) cones. In humans, great apes, and Old World monkeys, cones make a poorly understood choice between M and L cone subtype fates. To determine mechanisms specifying M and L cones, we developed an approach to visualize expression of the highly similar M- and L-opsin mRNAs. M-opsin was observed before L-opsin expression during early human eye development, suggesting that M cones are generated before L cones. In adult human tissue, the early-developing central retina contained a mix of M and L cones compared to the late-developing peripheral region, which contained a high proportion of L cones. Retinoic acid (RA)-synthesizing enzymes are highly expressed early in retinal development. High RA signaling early was sufficient to promote M cone fate and suppress L cone fate in retinal organoids. Across a human population sample, natural variation in the ratios of M and L cone subtypes was associated with a noncoding polymorphism in the NR2F2 gene, a mediator of RA signaling. Our data suggest that RA promotes M cone fate early in development to generate the pattern of M and L cones across the human retina.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Hadyniak
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Joanna F. D. Hagen
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Kiara C. Eldred
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington State, United States
| | - Boris Brenerman
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Katarzyna A. Hussey
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Rajiv C. McCoy
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Michael E. G. Sauria
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - James A. Kuchenbecker
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington State, United States
| | - Thomas Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington State, United States
| | - Ian Glass
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington State, United States
| | - Maureen Neitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington State, United States
| | - Jay Neitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington State, United States
| | - James Taylor
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Robert J. Johnston
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Mishra I, Gupta K, Mishra R, Chaudhary K, Sharma V. An Exploration of Organoid Technology: Present Advancements, Applications, and Obstacles. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2024; 25:1000-1020. [PMID: 37807405 DOI: 10.2174/0113892010273024230925075231] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Organoids are in vitro models that exhibit a three-dimensional structure and effectively replicate the structural and physiological features of human organs. The capacity to research complex biological processes and disorders in a controlled setting is laid out by these miniature organ-like structures. OBJECTIVES This work examines the potential applications of organoid technology, as well as the challenges and future directions associated with its implementation. It aims to emphasize the pivotal role of organoids in disease modeling, drug discovery, developmental biology, precision medicine, and fundamental research. METHODS The manuscript was put together by conducting a comprehensive literature review, which involved an in-depth evaluation of globally renowned scientific research databases. RESULTS The field of organoids has generated significant attention due to its potential applications in tissue development and disease modelling, as well as its implications for personalised medicine, drug screening, and cell-based therapies. The utilisation of organoids has proven to be effective in the examination of various conditions, encompassing genetic disorders, cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders, and infectious diseases. CONCLUSION The exploration of the wider uses of organoids is still in its early phases. Research shall be conducted to integrate 3D organoid systems as alternatives for current models, potentially improving both fundamental and clinical studies in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isha Mishra
- Department of Pharmacy, Galgotias College of Pharmacy, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
| | - Komal Gupta
- Department of Pharmacy, Galgotias College of Pharmacy, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
| | - Raghav Mishra
- Department of Pharmacy, GLA University, Mathura, 281406, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Kajal Chaudhary
- Department of Pharmacy, GLA University, Mathura, 281406, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vikram Sharma
- Department of Pharmacy, Galgotias College of Pharmacy, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Keuthan CJ, Zack DJ. RNA Isolation from Human Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Organoids. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2822:3-11. [PMID: 38907907 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3918-4_1] [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: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
RNA isolation is an essential first step for many types of molecular analyses, including reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR)/quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), Northern blotting, microarrays, and RNA-sequencing. While many RNA purification methods have been reported, it can be challenging to extract sufficient quantity, and suitable quality, of RNA from very small amounts of tissue and/or samples containing low numbers of cells. Here we outline a total RNA isolation method that reproducibly yields high-quality RNA from human stem cell-derived retinal organoids for downstream transcriptomic analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Casey J Keuthan
- Department of Ophthalmology | Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Donald J Zack
- Department of Ophthalmology | Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Wang Y, Yin N, Yang R, Zhao M, Li S, Zhang S, Zhao Y, Faiola F. Development of a simplified human embryonic stem cell-based retinal pre-organoid model for toxicity evaluations of common pollutants. Cutan Ocul Toxicol 2023; 42:264-272. [PMID: 37602871 DOI: 10.1080/15569527.2023.2249988] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the retinal toxicity of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), flame retardants, bisphenols, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on human retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, which are the primary cell types at the early stages of retinal development, vital for subsequent functional cell type differentiation, and closely related to retinal diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS After 23 days of differentiation, human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based retinal pre-organoids, containing RPCs and RPE cells, were exposed to 10, 100, and 1000 nM pesticides (butachlor, terbutryn, imidacloprid, deltamethrin, pendimethalin, and carbaryl), flame retardants (PFOS, TBBPA, DBDPE, and TDCIPP), PPCPs (climbazole and BHT), and other typical pollutants (phenanthrene, DCHP, and BPA) for seven days. Then, mRNA expression changes were monitored and compared. RESULTS (1) The selected pollutants did not show strong effects at environmental and human-relevant concentrations, although the effects of flame retardants were more potent than those of other categories of chemicals. Surprisingly, some pollutants with distinct structures showed similar adverse effects. (2) Exposure to pollutants induced different degrees of cell detachment, probably due to alterations in extracellular matrix and/or cell adhesion. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we established a retinal pre-organoid model suitable for evaluating multiple pollutants' effects, and pointed out the potential retinal toxicity of flame retardants, among other pollutants. Nevertheless, the potential mechanisms of toxicity and the effects on cell detachment are still unclear and deserve further exploration. Additionally, this model holds promise for screening interventions aimed at mitigating the detrimental effects of these pollutants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Nuoya Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Renjun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Miaomiao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Shichang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Shuxian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yanyi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Francesco Faiola
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Liang Y, Sun X, Duan C, Tang S, Chen J. Application of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and organoids in inherited retinal diseases. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:340. [PMID: 38012786 PMCID: PMC10683306 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03564-5] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) can induce severe sight-threatening retinal degeneration and impose a considerable economic burden on patients and society, making efforts to cure blindness imperative. Transgenic animals mimicking human genetic diseases have long been used as a primary research tool to decipher the underlying pathogenesis, but there are still some obvious limitations. As an alternative strategy, patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), particularly three-dimensional (3D) organoid technology, are considered a promising platform for modeling different forms of IRDs, including retinitis pigmentosa, Leber congenital amaurosis, X-linked recessive retinoschisis, Batten disease, achromatopsia, and best vitelliform macular dystrophy. Here, this paper focuses on the status of patient-derived iPSCs and organoids in IRDs in recent years concerning disease modeling and therapeutic exploration, along with potential challenges for translating laboratory research to clinical application. Finally, the importance of human iPSCs and organoids in combination with emerging technologies such as multi-omics integration analysis, 3D bioprinting, or microfluidic chip platform are highlighted. Patient-derived retinal organoids may be a preferred choice for more accurately uncovering the mechanisms of human retinal diseases and will contribute to clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuqin Liang
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China
- Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Xihao Sun
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China
- Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Chunwen Duan
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China
- Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha, 410015, China
| | - Shibo Tang
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China.
- Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha, 410015, China.
| | - Jiansu Chen
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China.
- Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha, 410015, China.
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kruczek K, Swaroop A. Patient stem cell-derived in vitro disease models for developing novel therapies of retinal ciliopathies. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 155:127-163. [PMID: 38043950 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.09.003] [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] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Primary cilia are specialized organelles on the surface of almost all cells in vertebrate tissues and are primarily involved in the detection of extracellular stimuli. In retinal photoreceptors, cilia are uniquely modified to form outer segments containing components required for the detection of light in stacks of membrane discs. Not surprisingly, vision impairment is a frequent phenotype associated with ciliopathies, a heterogeneous class of conditions caused by mutations in proteins required for formation, maintenance and/or function of primary cilia. Traditionally, immortalized cell lines and model organisms have been used to provide insights into the biology of ciliopathies. The advent of methods for reprogramming human somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells has enabled the generation of in vitro disease models directly from patients suffering from ciliopathies. Such models help us in investigating pathological mechanisms specific to human physiology and in developing novel therapeutic approaches. In this article, we review current protocols to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into retinal cell types, and discuss how these cellular and/or organoid models can be utilized to interrogate pathobiology of ciliopathies affecting the retina and for testing prospective treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Kruczek
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bai J, Koos DS, Stepanian K, Fouladian Z, Shayler DWH, Aparicio JG, Fraser SE, Moats RA, Cobrinik D. Episodic live imaging of cone photoreceptor maturation in GNAT2-EGFP retinal organoids. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050193. [PMID: 37902188 PMCID: PMC10690052 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050193] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent reporter pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids are powerful tools to investigate cell type-specific development and disease phenotypes. When combined with live imaging, they enable direct and repeated observation of cell behaviors within a developing retinal tissue. Here, we generated a human cone photoreceptor reporter line by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of WTC11-mTagRFPT-LMNB1 human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by inserting enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) coding sequences and a 2A self-cleaving peptide at the N-terminus of guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit alpha transducin 2 (GNAT2). In retinal organoids generated from these iPSCs, the GNAT2-EGFP alleles robustly and exclusively labeled immature and mature cones. Episodic confocal live imaging of hydrogel immobilized retinal organoids allowed tracking of the morphological maturation of individual cones for >18 weeks and revealed inner segment accumulation of mitochondria and growth at 12.2 μm3 per day from day 126 to day 153. Immobilized GNAT2-EGFP cone reporter organoids provide a valuable tool for investigating human cone development and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinlun Bai
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Development, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Medicine Program, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - David S. Koos
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Translational Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Kayla Stepanian
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Zachary Fouladian
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Development, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Medicine Program, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Dominic W. H. Shayler
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Development, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Medicine Program, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Jennifer G. Aparicio
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Scott E. Fraser
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Translational Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Translational Imaging Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Rex A. Moats
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Translational Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - David Cobrinik
- The Vision Center, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Roski Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Carido M, Völkner M, Steinheuer LM, Wagner F, Kurth T, Dumler N, Ulusoy S, Wieneke S, Norniella AV, Golfieri C, Khattak S, Schönfelder B, Scamozzi M, Zoschke K, Canzler S, Hackermüller J, Ader M, Karl MO. Reliability of human retina organoid generation from hiPSC-derived neuroepithelial cysts. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1166641. [PMID: 37868194 PMCID: PMC10587494 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1166641] [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: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The possible applications for human retinal organoids (HROs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) rely on the robustness and transferability of the methodology for their generation. Standardized strategies and parameters to effectively assess, compare, and optimize organoid protocols are starting to be established, but are not yet complete. To advance this, we explored the efficiency and reliability of a differentiation method, called CYST protocol, that facilitates retina generation by forming neuroepithelial cysts from hiPSC clusters. Here, we tested seven different hiPSC lines which reproducibly generated HROs. Histological and ultrastructural analyses indicate that HRO differentiation and maturation are regulated. The different hiPSC lines appeared to be a larger source of variance than experimental rounds. Although previous reports have shown that HROs in several other protocols contain a rather low number of cones, HROs from the CYST protocol are consistently richer in cones and with a comparable ratio of cones, rods, and Müller glia. To provide further insight into HRO cell composition, we studied single cell RNA sequencing data and applied CaSTLe, a transfer learning approach. Additionally, we devised a potential strategy to systematically evaluate different organoid protocols side-by-side through parallel differentiation from the same hiPSC batches: In an explorative study, the CYST protocol was compared to a conceptually different protocol based on the formation of cell aggregates from single hiPSCs. Comparing four hiPSC lines showed that both protocols reproduced key characteristics of retinal epithelial structure and cell composition, but the CYST protocol provided a higher HRO yield. So far, our data suggest that CYST-derived HROs remained stable up to at least day 200, while single hiPSC-derived HROs showed spontaneous pathologic changes by day 200. Overall, our data provide insights into the efficiency, reproducibility, and stability of the CYST protocol for generating HROs, which will be useful for further optimizing organoid systems, as well as for basic and translational research applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madalena Carido
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Manuela Völkner
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lisa Maria Steinheuer
- Department Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Felix Wagner
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technology Platform, Core Facility Electron Microscopy and Histology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Natalie Dumler
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Selen Ulusoy
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephanie Wieneke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Cristina Golfieri
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Shahryar Khattak
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Stem Cell Engineering Facility, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Bruno Schönfelder
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maria Scamozzi
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katja Zoschke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sebastian Canzler
- Department Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jörg Hackermüller
- Department Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mike O Karl
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Keuthan CJ, Karma S, Zack DJ. Alternative RNA Splicing in the Retina: Insights and Perspectives. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041313. [PMID: 36690463 PMCID: PMC10547393 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing is a fundamental and highly regulated post-transcriptional process that enhances transcriptome and proteome diversity. This process is particularly important in neuronal tissues, such as the retina, which exhibit some of the highest levels of differentially spliced genes in the body. Alternative splicing is regulated both temporally and spatially during neuronal development, can be cell-type-specific, and when altered can cause a number of pathologies, including retinal degeneration. Advancements in high-throughput sequencing technologies have facilitated investigations of the alternative splicing landscape of the retina in both healthy and disease states. Additionally, innovations in human stem cell engineering, specifically in the generation of 3D retinal organoids, which recapitulate many aspects of the in vivo retinal microenvironment, have aided studies of the role of alternative splicing in human retinal development and degeneration. Here we review these advances and discuss the ongoing development of strategies for the treatment of alternative splicing-related retinal disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Casey J Keuthan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA
| | - Sadik Karma
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA
| | - Donald J Zack
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Shome I, Thathapudi NC, Aramati BMR, Kowtharapu BS, Jangamreddy JR. Stages, pathogenesis, clinical management and advancements in therapies of age-related macular degeneration. Int Ophthalmol 2023; 43:3891-3909. [PMID: 37347455 DOI: 10.1007/s10792-023-02767-2] [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: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a retinal degenerative disorder prevalent in the elderly population, which leads to the loss of central vision. The disease progression can be managed, if not prevented, either by blocking neovascularization ("wet" form of AMD) or by preserving retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor cells ("dry" form of AMD). Although current therapeutic modalities are moderately successful in delaying the progression and management of the disease, advances over the past years in regenerative medicine using iPSC, embryonic stem cells, advanced materials (including nanomaterials) and organ bio-printing show great prospects in restoring vision and efficient management of either forms of AMD. This review focuses on the molecular mechanism of the disease, model systems (both cellular and animal) used in studying AMD, the list of various regenerative therapies and the current treatments available. The article also highlights on the recent clinical trials using regenerative therapies and management of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ishita Shome
- UR Advanced Therapeutics Private Limited, ASPIRE-BioNest, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Neethi C Thathapudi
- Centre de Recherche Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Bindu Madhav Reddy Aramati
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Bhavani S Kowtharapu
- UR Advanced Therapeutics Private Limited, ASPIRE-BioNest, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Jaganmohan R Jangamreddy
- UR Advanced Therapeutics Private Limited, ASPIRE-BioNest, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Agarwal D, Dash N, Mazo KW, Chopra M, Avila MP, Patel A, Wong RM, Jia C, Do H, Cheng J, Chiang C, Jurlina SL, Roshan M, Perry MW, Rho JM, Broyer R, Lee CD, Weinreb RN, Gavrilovici C, Oesch NW, Welsbie DS, Wahlin KJ. Human retinal ganglion cell neurons generated by synchronous BMP inhibition and transcription factor mediated reprogramming. NPJ Regen Med 2023; 8:55. [PMID: 37773257 PMCID: PMC10541876 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-023-00327-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In optic neuropathies, including glaucoma, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) die. Cell transplantation and endogenous regeneration offer strategies for retinal repair, however, developmental programs required for this to succeed are incompletely understood. To address this, we explored cellular reprogramming with transcription factor (TF) regulators of RGC development which were integrated into human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) as inducible gene cassettes. When the pioneer factor NEUROG2 was combined with RGC-expressed TFs (ATOH7, ISL1, and POU4F2) some conversion was observed and when pre-patterned by BMP inhibition, RGC-like induced neurons (RGC-iNs) were generated with high efficiency in just under a week. These exhibited transcriptional profiles that were reminiscent of RGCs and exhibited electrophysiological properties, including AMPA-mediated synaptic transmission. Additionally, we demonstrated that small molecule inhibitors of DLK/LZK and GCK-IV can block neuronal death in two pharmacological axon injury models. Combining developmental patterning with RGC-specific TFs thus provided valuable insight into strategies for cell replacement and neuroprotection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devansh Agarwal
- Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas Dash
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kevin W Mazo
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Manan Chopra
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Maria P Avila
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Amit Patel
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ryan M Wong
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Cairang Jia
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Hope Do
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jie Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Colette Chiang
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shawna L Jurlina
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mona Roshan
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael W Perry
- Department of Biological Sciences, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jong M Rho
- Department of Neurosciences, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Risa Broyer
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Cassidy D Lee
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert N Weinreb
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Nicholas W Oesch
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Derek S Welsbie
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Karl J Wahlin
- Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology & the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Chakrabarty K, Nayak D, Debnath J, Das D, Shetty R, Ghosh A. Retinal organoids in disease modeling and drug discovery: Opportunities and challenges. Surv Ophthalmol 2023:S0039-6257(23)00127-3. [PMID: 37778668 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.09.003] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Diseases leading to retinal cell loss can cause severe visual impairment and blindness. The lack of effective therapies to address retinal cell loss and the absence of intrinsic regeneration in the human retina leads to an irreversible pathological condition. Progress in recent years in the generation of human three-dimensional retinal organoids from pluripotent stem cells makes it possible to recreate the cytoarchitecture and associated cell-cell interactions of the human retina in remarkable detail. These human three-dimensional retinal organoid systems made of distinct retinal cell types and possessing contextual physiological responses allow the study of human retina development and retinal disease pathology in a way animal model and two-dimensional cell cultures were unable to achieve. We describe the derivation of retinal organoids from human pluripotent stem cells and their application for modeling retinal disease pathologies, while outlining the opportunities and challenges for its application in academia and industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koushik Chakrabarty
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
| | - Divyani Nayak
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Jayasree Debnath
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Debashish Das
- Stem Cell Research Lab, GROW Lab, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Rohit Shetty
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Narayana Nethralaya Eye Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Arkasubhra Ghosh
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Cheng YM, Ma C, Jin K, Jin ZB. Retinal organoid and gene editing for basic and translational research. Vision Res 2023; 210:108273. [PMID: 37307693 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2023.108273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The rapid evolution of two technologies has greatly transformed the basic, translational, and clinical research in the mammalian retina. One is the retinal organoid (RO) technology. Various induction methods have been created or adapted to generate species-specific, disease-specific, and experimental-targeted retinal organoids (ROs). The process of generating ROs can highly mimic the in vivo retinal development, and consequently, the ROs resemble the retina in many aspects including the molecular and cellular profiles. The other technology is the gene editing, represented by the classical CRISPR-Cas9 editing and its derivatives such as prime editing, homology independent targeted integration (HITI), base editing and others. The combination of ROs and gene editing has opened up countless possibilities in the study of retinal development, pathogenesis, and therapeutics. We review recent advances in the ROs, gene editing methodologies, delivery vectors, and related topics that are particularly relevant to retinal studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- You-Min Cheng
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730 China
| | - Chao Ma
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730 China
| | - Kangxin Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730 China.
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730 China.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Kelley RA, Wu Z. Utilization of the retinal organoid model to evaluate the feasibility of genetic strategies to ameliorate retinal disease(s). Vision Res 2023; 210:108269. [PMID: 37295270 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2023.108269] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Organoid models have quickly become a popular research tool to evaluate novel therapeutics on 3-D recapitulated tissue. This has enabled researchers to use physiologically relevant human tissue in vitro to augment the standard use of immortalized cells and animal models. Organoids can also provide a model when an engineered animal cannot recreate a specific disease phenotype. In particular, the retinal research field has taken advantage of this burgeoning technology to provide insight into inherited retinal disease(s) mechanisms and therapeutic intervention to ameliorate their effects. In this review we will discuss the use of both wild-type and patient-specific retinal organoids to further gene therapy research that could potentially prevent retinal disease(s) progression. Furthermore, we will discuss the pitfalls of current retinal organoid technology and present potential solutions that could overcome these hurdles in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A Kelley
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Ct #2400, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA.
| | - Zhijian Wu
- PTC Therapeutics, 100 Corporate Ct #2400, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Gao AY, Haak AJ, Bakri SJ. In vitro laboratory models of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Surv Ophthalmol 2023; 68:861-874. [PMID: 37209723 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.05.007] [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: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), the most common cause of recurrent retinal detachment, is characterized by the formation and contraction of fibrotic membranes on the surface of the retina. There are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs to prevent or treat PVR. Therefore, it is necessary to develop accurate in vitro models of the disease that will enable researchers to screen drug candidates and prioritize the most promising candidates for clinical studies. We provide a summary of recent in vitro PVR models, as well as avenues for model improvement. Several in vitro PVR models were identified, including various types of cell cultures. Additionally, novel techniques that have not been used to model PVR were identified, including organoids, hydrogels, and organ-on-a-chip models. Novel ideas for improving in vitro PVR models are highlighted. Researchers may consult this review to help design in vitro models of PVR, which will aid in the development of therapies to treat the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Y Gao
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Andrew J Haak
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sophie J Bakri
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Si TE, Li Z, Zhang J, Su S, Liu Y, Chen S, Peng GH, Cao J, Zang W. Epigenetic mechanisms of Müller glial reprogramming mediating retinal regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1157893. [PMID: 37397254 PMCID: PMC10309042 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1157893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases, characterized by retinal neuronal death and severe vision loss, affect millions of people worldwide. One of the most promising treatment methods for retinal degenerative diseases is to reprogram non-neuronal cells into stem or progenitor cells, which then have the potential to re-differentiate to replace the dead neurons, thereby promoting retinal regeneration. Müller glia are the major glial cell type and play an important regulatory role in retinal metabolism and retinal cell regeneration. Müller glia can serve as a source of neurogenic progenitor cells in organisms with the ability to regenerate the nervous system. Current evidence points toward the reprogramming process of Müller glia, involving changes in the expression of pluripotent factors and other key signaling molecules that may be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. This review summarizes recent knowledge of epigenetic modifications involved in the reprogramming process of Müller glia and the subsequent changes to gene expression and the outcomes. In living organisms, epigenetic mechanisms mainly include DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNA-mediated miRNA degradation, all of which play a crucial role in the reprogramming process of Müller glia. The information presented in this review will improve the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the Müller glial reprogramming process and provide a research basis for the development of Müller glial reprogramming therapy for retinal degenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tian-En Si
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhixiao Li
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Songxue Su
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yupeng Liu
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shiyue Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guang-Hua Peng
- Department of Pathophysiology, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Laboratory of Visual Cell Differentiation and Regulation, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jing Cao
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Weidong Zang
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Kang J, Gong J, Yang C, Lin X, Yan L, Gong Y, Xu H. Application of Human Stem Cell Derived Retinal Organoids in the Exploration of the Mechanisms of Early Retinal Development. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2023:10.1007/s12015-023-10553-x. [PMID: 37269529 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10553-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The intricate neural circuit of retina extracts salient features of the natural world and forms bioelectric impulse as the origin of vision. The early development of retina is a highly complex and coordinated process in morphogenesis and neurogenesis. Increasing evidence indicates that stem cells derived human retinal organoids (hROs) in vitro faithfully recapitulates the embryonic developmental process of human retina no matter in the transcriptome, cellular biology and histomorphology. The emergence of hROs greatly deepens on the understanding of early development of human retina. Here, we reviewed the events of early retinal development both in animal embryos and hROs studies, which mainly comprises the formation of optic vesicle and optic cup shape, differentiation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), photoreceptor cells (PRs) and its supportive retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE). We also discussed the classic and frontier molecular pathways up to date to decipher the underlying mechanisms of early development of human retina and hROs. Finally, we summarized the application prospect, challenges and cutting-edge techniques of hROs for uncovering the principles and mechanisms of retinal development and related developmental disorder. hROs is a priori selection for studying human retinal development and function and may be a fundamental tool for unlocking the unknown insight into retinal development and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Kang
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jing Gong
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Cao Yang
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xi Lin
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Lijuan Yan
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yu Gong
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Sciences Research Center, University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Liu YV, Santiago CP, Sogunro A, Konar GJ, Hu MW, McNally MM, Lu YC, Flores-Bellver M, Aparicio-Domingo S, Li KV, Li ZL, Agakishiev D, Hadyniak SE, Hussey KA, Creamer TJ, Orzolek LD, Teng D, Canto-Soler MV, Qian J, Jiang Z, Johnston RJ, Blackshaw S, Singh MS. Single-cell transcriptome analysis of xenotransplanted human retinal organoids defines two migratory cell populations of nonretinal origin. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1138-1154. [PMID: 37163980 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Human retinal organoid transplantation could potentially be a treatment for degenerative retinal diseases. How the recipient retina regulates the survival, maturation, and proliferation of transplanted organoid cells is unknown. We transplanted human retinal organoid-derived cells into photoreceptor-deficient mice and conducted histology and single-cell RNA sequencing alongside time-matched cultured retinal organoids. Unexpectedly, we observed human cells that migrated into all recipient retinal layers and traveled long distances. Using an unbiased approach, we identified these cells as astrocytes and brain/spinal cord-like neural precursors that were absent or rare in stage-matched cultured organoids. In contrast, retinal progenitor-derived rods and cones remained in the subretinal space, maturing more rapidly than those in the cultured controls. These data suggest that recipient microenvironment promotes the maturation of transplanted photoreceptors while inducing or facilitating the survival of migratory cell populations that are not normally derived from retinal progenitors. These findings have important implications for potential cell-based treatments of retinal diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying V Liu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Clayton P Santiago
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Akin Sogunro
- Department of Biology, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gregory J Konar
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ming-Wen Hu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Minda M McNally
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yu-Chen Lu
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Miguel Flores-Bellver
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Silvia Aparicio-Domingo
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kang V Li
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Zhuo-Lin Li
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dzhalal Agakishiev
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarah E Hadyniak
- Department of Biology, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Katarzyna A Hussey
- Department of Biology, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tyler J Creamer
- Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Linda D Orzolek
- Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Derek Teng
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - M Valeria Canto-Soler
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jiang Qian
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zheng Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robert J Johnston
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biology, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Seth Blackshaw
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Mandeep S Singh
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
CRISPR/Cas9 mediated specific ablation of vegfa in retinal pigment epithelium efficiently regresses choroidal neovascularization. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3715. [PMID: 36878916 PMCID: PMC9988861 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29014-z] [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: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 system easily edits target genes in various organisms and is used to treat human diseases. In most therapeutic CRISPR studies, ubiquitously expressed promoters, such as CMV, CAG, and EF1α, are used; however, gene editing is sometimes necessary only in specific cell types relevant to the disease. Therefore, we aimed to develop a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-specific CRISPR/Cas9 system. We developed a CRISPR/Cas9 system that operates only in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) by expressing Cas9 under the RPE-specific vitelliform macular dystrophy 2 promoter (pVMD2). This RPE-specific CRISPR/pVMD2-Cas9 system was tested in human retinal organoid and mouse model. We confirmed that this system works specifically in the RPE of human retinal organoids and mouse retina. In addition, the RPE-specific Vegfa ablation using the novel CRISPR-pVMD2-Cas9 system caused regression of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) without unwanted knock-out in the neural retina in laser-induced CNV mice, which is a widely used animal model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. RPE-specific Vegfa knock-out (KO) and ubiquitous Vegfa KO were comparable in the efficient regression of CNV. The promoter substituted, cell type-specific CRISPR/Cas9 systems can be used in specific 'target cell' therapy, which edits genes while reducing unwanted off- 'target cell' effects.
Collapse
|
31
|
Bohrer LR, Stone NE, Mullin NK, Voigt AP, Anfinson KR, Fick JL, Luangphakdy V, Hittle B, Powell K, Muschler GF, Mullins RF, Stone EM, Tucker BA. Automating iPSC generation to enable autologous photoreceptor cell replacement therapy. J Transl Med 2023; 21:161. [PMID: 36855199 PMCID: PMC9976478 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-03966-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inherited retinal degeneration is a leading cause of incurable vision loss in the developed world. While autologous iPSC mediated photoreceptor cell replacement is theoretically possible, the lack of commercially available technologies designed to enable high throughput parallel production of patient specific therapeutics has hindered clinical translation. METHODS In this study, we describe the use of the Cell X precision robotic cell culture platform to enable parallel production of clinical grade patient specific iPSCs. The Cell X is housed within an ISO Class 5 cGMP compliant closed aseptic isolator (Biospherix XVivo X2), where all procedures from fibroblast culture to iPSC generation, clonal expansion and retinal differentiation were performed. RESULTS Patient iPSCs generated using the Cell X platform were determined to be pluripotent via score card analysis and genetically stable via karyotyping. As determined via immunostaining and confocal microscopy, iPSCs generated using the Cell X platform gave rise to retinal organoids that were indistinguishable from organoids derived from manually generated iPSCs. In addition, at 120 days post-differentiation, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed that cells generated using the Cell X platform were comparable to those generated under manual conditions in a separate laboratory. CONCLUSION We have successfully developed a robotic iPSC generation platform and standard operating procedures for production of high-quality photoreceptor precursor cells that are compatible with current good manufacturing practices. This system will enable clinical grade production of iPSCs for autologous retinal cell replacement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura R Bohrer
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Nicholas E Stone
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Nathaniel K Mullin
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Andrew P Voigt
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kristin R Anfinson
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jessica L Fick
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Viviane Luangphakdy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Cell X Technologies Inc, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Bradley Hittle
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kimerly Powell
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - George F Muschler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Robert F Mullins
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Edwin M Stone
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Budd A Tucker
- Institute for Vision Research, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Watari K, Yamasaki S, Tu HY, Shikamura M, Kamei T, Adachi H, Tochitani T, Kita Y, Nakamura A, Ueyama K, Ono K, Morinaga C, Matsuyama T, Sho J, Nakamura M, Fujiwara M, Hori Y, Tanabe A, Hirai R, Terai O, Ohno O, Ohara H, Hayama T, Ikeda A, Nukaya D, Matsushita K, Takahashi M, Kishino A, Kimura T, Kawamata S, Mandai M, Kuwahara A. Self-organization, quality control, and preclinical studies of human iPSC-derived retinal sheets for tissue-transplantation therapy. Commun Biol 2023; 6:164. [PMID: 36765170 PMCID: PMC9918541 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04543-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional retinal organoids (3D-retinas) are a promising graft source for transplantation therapy. We previously developed self-organizing culture for 3D-retina generation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Here we present a quality control method and preclinical studies for tissue-sheet transplantation. Self-organizing hPSCs differentiated into both retinal and off-target tissues. Gene expression analyses identified the major off-target tissues as eye-related, cortex-like, and spinal cord-like tissues. For quality control, we developed a qPCR-based test in which each hPSC-derived neuroepithelium was dissected into two tissue-sheets: inner-central sheet for transplantation and outer-peripheral sheet for qPCR to ensure retinal tissue selection. During qPCR, tissue-sheets were stored for 3-4 days using a newly developed preservation method. In a rat tumorigenicity study, no transplant-related adverse events were observed. In retinal degeneration model rats, retinal transplants differentiated into mature photoreceptors and exhibited light responses in electrophysiology assays. These results demonstrate our rationale toward self-organizing retinal sheet transplantation therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Watari
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Suguru Yamasaki
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan ,grid.508743.dLaboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Hung-Ya Tu
- grid.508743.dLaboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Masayuki Shikamura
- grid.417982.10000 0004 0623 246XResearch & Development Center for Cell Therapy, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kamei
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Hideki Adachi
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XPreclinical Research Unit, Research Division, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Konohana-ku, Osaka 554-0022 Japan
| | - Tomoaki Tochitani
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XPreclinical Research Unit, Research Division, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Konohana-ku, Osaka 554-0022 Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Kita
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Aya Nakamura
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XTechnology Research & Development Division, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Kazuki Ueyama
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XTechnology Research & Development Division, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Keiichi Ono
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XTechnology Research & Development Division, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Chikako Morinaga
- grid.508743.dLaboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan ,grid.7597.c0000000094465255RIKEN Program for Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms, RIKEN Cluster for Science, Technology and Innovation Hub., Saitama, 351-0198 Japan
| | - Take Matsuyama
- grid.508743.dLaboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Junki Sho
- grid.508743.dLaboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Miyuki Nakamura
- grid.417982.10000 0004 0623 246XResearch & Development Center for Cell Therapy, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Masayo Fujiwara
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Yoriko Hori
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Anna Tanabe
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Rina Hirai
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Orie Terai
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Osamu Ohno
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Hidetaka Ohara
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hayama
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Atsushi Ikeda
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Daiki Nukaya
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Keizo Matsushita
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan ,grid.508743.dLaboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- grid.508743.dLaboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kishino
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Toru Kimura
- grid.417741.00000 0004 1797 168XRegenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Shin Kawamata
- grid.417982.10000 0004 0623 246XResearch & Development Center for Cell Therapy, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan
| | - Michiko Mandai
- grid.508743.dLaboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047 Japan ,grid.7597.c0000000094465255RIKEN Program for Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms, RIKEN Cluster for Science, Technology and Innovation Hub., Saitama, 351-0198 Japan
| | - Atsushi Kuwahara
- Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Re-formation of synaptic connectivity in dissociated human stem cell-derived retinal organoid cultures. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2213418120. [PMID: 36598946 PMCID: PMC9926218 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213418120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived retinal organoids (ROs) can efficiently and reproducibly generate retinal neurons that have potential for use in cell replacement strategies [Capowski et al., Development 146, dev171686 (2019)]. The ability of these lab-grown retinal neurons to form new synaptic connections after dissociation from ROs is key to building confidence in their capacity to restore visual function. However, direct evidence of reestablishment of retinal neuron connectivity via synaptic tracing has not been reported to date. The present study employs an in vitro, rabies virus-based, monosynaptic retrograde tracing assay [Wickersham et al., Neuron 53, 639-647 (2007); Sun et al., Mol. Neurodegener. 14, 8 (2019)] to identify de novo synaptic connections among early retinal cell types following RO dissociation. A reproducible, high-throughput approach for labeling and quantifying traced retinal cell types was developed. Photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells-the primary neurons of interest for retinal cell replacement-were the two major contributing populations among the traced presynaptic cells. This system provides a platform for assessing synaptic connections in cultured retinal neurons and sets the stage for future cell replacement studies aimed at characterizing or enhancing synaptogenesis. Used in this manner, in vitro synaptic tracing is envisioned to complement traditional preclinical animal model testing, which is limited by evolutionary incompatibilities in synaptic machinery inherent to human xenografts.
Collapse
|
34
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Huang KC, Gomes C, Meyer JS. Retinal Ganglion Cells in a Dish: Current Strategies and Recommended Best Practices for Effective In Vitro Modeling of Development and Disease. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2023; 281:83-102. [PMID: 36907969 PMCID: PMC10497719 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_642] [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] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
The ability to derive retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provides an extraordinary opportunity to study the development of RGCs as well as cellular mechanisms underlying their degeneration in optic neuropathies. In the past several years, multiple approaches have been established that allow for the generation of RGCs from hPSCs, with these methods greatly improved in more recent studies to yield mature RGCs that more faithfully recapitulate phenotypes within the eye. Nevertheless, numerous differences still remain between hPSC-RGCs and those found within the human eye, with these differences likely explained at least in part due to the environment in which hPSC-RGCs are grown. With the ultimate goal of generating hPSC-RGCs that most closely resemble those within the retina for proper studies of retinal development, disease modeling, as well as cellular replacement, we review within this manuscript the current effective approaches for the differentiation of hPSC-RGCs, as well as how they have been applied for the investigation of RGC neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma. Furthermore, we provide our opinions on the characteristics of RGCs necessary for their use as effective in vitro disease models and importantly, how these current systems should be improved to more accurately reflect disease states. The establishment of characteristics in differentiated hPSC-RGCs that more effectively mimic RGCs within the retina will not only enable their use as effective models of RGC development, but will also create a better disease model for the identification of mechanisms underlying the neurodegeneration of RGCs in disease states such as glaucoma, further facilitating the development of therapeutic approaches to rescue RGCs from degeneration in disease states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kang-Chieh Huang
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Cátia Gomes
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jason S Meyer
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Kandoi S, Lamba DA. Retinal Organoids: A Human Model System for Development, Diseases, and Therapies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1415:549-554. [PMID: 37440085 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_80] [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
Inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) encompasses a group of heterogeneous disorders causing debilitating visual diseases and blindness, affecting more than two million people worldwide, in all age groups. The inheritance patterns vary from autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked, and sporadic with mutations in over 260 genes identified to date. Despite the significant advances in clinical diagnosis, there is no effective treatment available. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) derived in vitro 3D retinal organoids offer a powerful preclinical tool to investigate the molecular mechanism(s) of inherited diseases. Organoids have the potential for the development of personalized therapies by modeling the disease-specific and patient-specific IRD. This mini-review will elaborate on the utility of the advanced culture model system by focusing on staging the in vitro human retinogenesis, modeling retinal diseases, and as a tool for testing potential therapeutic approaches to restore or prevent vision loss in affected individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sangeetha Kandoi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Deepak A Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
A Tet-Inducible CRISPR Platform for High-Fidelity Editing of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13122363. [PMID: 36553630 PMCID: PMC9777998 DOI: 10.3390/genes13122363] [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: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) offer an exciting resource for probing human biology; however, gene-editing efficiency remains relatively low in many cell types, including stem cells. Gene-editing using the CRISPR-Cas9 system offers an attractive solution that improves upon previous gene-editing approaches; however, like other technologies, off-target mutagenesis remains a concern. High-fidelity Cas9 variants greatly reduce off-target mutagenesis and offer a solution to this problem. To evaluate their utility as part of a cell-based gene-editing platform, human PSC lines were generated with a high-fidelity (HF) tetracycline-inducible engineered Streptococcus pyogenes SpCas9 (HF-iCas9) integrated into the AAVS1 safe harbor locus. By engineering cells with controllable expression of Cas9, we eliminated the need to include a large Cas9-expressing plasmid during cell transfection. Delivery of genetic cargo was further optimized by packaging DNA targeting guide RNAs (gRNAs) and donor fragments into a single plasmid backbone. The potential of homology-directed repair (HDR) based gene knock-in at the CLYBL safe harbor site and endogenous SOX2 and SIX6 genes were demonstrated. Moreover, we used non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) for gene knockout of disease-relevant alleles. These high-fidelity CRISPR tools and the resulting HF-iCas9 cell lines will facilitate the production of cell-type reporters and mutants across different genetic backgrounds.
Collapse
|
38
|
Bulk RNA sequencing analysis of developing human induced pluripotent cell-derived retinal organoids. Sci Data 2022; 9:759. [PMID: 36494376 PMCID: PMC9734101 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01853-x] [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: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinogenesis involves the transformation of the anterior developing brain into organized retinal lamellae coordinated by intricate gene signalling networks. This complex process has been investigated in several model organisms such as birds, fish, mammals and amphibians, yet many facets of retinal development are different in humans and remain unexplored. In this regard, human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived 3D retinal organoids and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) have emerged as key technologies that have facilitated the discovery of previously unknown details about cell fate specification and gene regulation in the retina. Here we utilized hPSCs integrated with fluorescent reporter genes (SIX6-p2A-eGFP/CRX-p2A-h2b-mRuby3) to generate retinal organoids and carry out bulk RNA sequencing of samples encompassing the majority of retinogenesis (D0-D280). This data set will serve as a valuable reference for the vision research community to characterize differentially expressed genes in the developing human eye.
Collapse
|
39
|
Karamali F, Behtaj S, Babaei-Abraki S, Hadady H, Atefi A, Savoj S, Soroushzadeh S, Najafian S, Nasr Esfahani MH, Klassen H. Potential therapeutic strategies for photoreceptor degeneration: the path to restore vision. J Transl Med 2022; 20:572. [PMID: 36476500 PMCID: PMC9727916 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03738-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptors (PRs), as the most abundant and light-sensing cells of the neuroretina, are responsible for converting light into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. PR degeneration, including morphological and functional impairment of these cells, causes significant diminution of the retina's ability to detect light, with consequent loss of vision. Recent findings in ocular regenerative medicine have opened promising avenues to apply neuroprotective therapy, gene therapy, cell replacement therapy, and visual prostheses to the challenge of restoring vision. However, successful visual restoration in the clinical setting requires application of these therapeutic approaches at the appropriate stage of the retinal degeneration. In this review, firstly, we discuss the mechanisms of PR degeneration by focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying cell death. Subsequently, innovations, recent developments, and promising treatments based on the stage of disorder progression are further explored. Then, the challenges to be addressed before implementation of these therapies in clinical practice are considered. Finally, potential solutions to overcome the current limitations of this growing research area are suggested. Overall, the majority of current treatment modalities are still at an early stage of development and require extensive additional studies, both pre-clinical and clinical, before full restoration of visual function in PR degeneration diseases can be realized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Karamali
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sanaz Behtaj
- grid.1022.10000 0004 0437 5432Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia ,grid.1022.10000 0004 0437 5432Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222 Australia
| | - Shahnaz Babaei-Abraki
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hanieh Hadady
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Atefeh Atefi
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Soraya Savoj
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sareh Soroushzadeh
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Samaneh Najafian
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nasr Esfahani
- grid.417689.5Department of Animal Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Henry Klassen
- grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Irvine, CA USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Onyak JR, Vergara MN, Renna JM. Retinal organoid light responsivity: current status and future opportunities. Transl Res 2022; 250:98-111. [PMID: 35690342 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The ability to generate human retinas in vitro from pluripotent stem cells opened unprecedented opportunities for basic science and for the development of therapeutic approaches for retinal degenerative diseases. Retinal organoid models not only mimic the histoarchitecture and cellular composition of the native retina, but they can achieve a remarkable level of maturation that allows them to respond to light stimulation. However, studies evaluating the nature, magnitude, and properties of light-evoked responsivity from each cell type, in each retinal organoid layer, have been sparse. In this review we discuss the current understanding of retinal organoid function, the technologies used for functional assessment in human retinal organoids, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - M Natalia Vergara
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.
| | - Jordan M Renna
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Berber P, Bondarenko S, Michaelis L, Weber BHF. Transient Retention of Photoreceptor Outer Segments in Matrigel-Embedded Retinal Organoids. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314893. [PMID: 36499228 PMCID: PMC9739155 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal organoids (ROs) are three-dimensional retinal tissues, which are differentiated in vitro from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), ultimately forming all main retinal cell types under defined culture conditions. ROs show several highly specialized retinal features, including the outgrowth of photoreceptor outer segments (OSs). In vivo, the photoreceptor OSs are enveloped and maintained by protrusions of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, the so-called apical microvilli, while ROs fail to recapitulate this critical interaction in culture development. Here, we define specific co-culture conditions aiming to compensate for the missing physical proximity of RPE and OSs in RO development. Accordingly, functional RPE cells and ROs were differentiated simultaneously from the same iPSC clone, the former resulting in byproduct RPE or bRPE cells. While some co-culture approaches indicated a temporary functional interaction between bRPE and RO photoreceptors, they did not improve the photoreceptor histoarchitecture. In contrast, embedding ROs in a basement membrane extract without bRPE cells showed a robust improvement in the rate of photoreceptor OS retention. RO embedding is a quick and easy method that greatly enhances the preservation of photoreceptor OSs, an important structure for modelling retinal diseases with the involvement of photoreceptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Berber
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sofiia Bondarenko
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Michaelis
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Heinrich Friedrich Weber
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Human Genetics, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Arthur P, Muok L, Nathani A, Zeng EZ, Sun L, Li Y, Singh M. Bioengineering Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Organoids and Optic Vesicle-Containing Brain Organoids for Ocular Diseases. Cells 2022; 11:3429. [PMID: 36359825 PMCID: PMC9653705 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal organoids are three-dimensional (3D) structures derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) that mimic the retina's spatial and temporal differentiation, making them useful as in vitro retinal development models. Retinal organoids can be assembled with brain organoids, the 3D self-assembled aggregates derived from hPSCs containing different cell types and cytoarchitectures that resemble the human embryonic brain. Recent studies have shown the development of optic cups in brain organoids. The cellular components of a developing optic vesicle-containing organoids include primitive corneal epithelial and lens-like cells, retinal pigment epithelia, retinal progenitor cells, axon-like projections, and electrically active neuronal networks. The importance of retinal organoids in ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt disease, retinitis pigmentosa, and diabetic retinopathy are described in this review. This review highlights current developments in retinal organoid techniques, and their applications in ocular conditions such as disease modeling, gene therapy, drug screening and development. In addition, recent advancements in utilizing extracellular vesicles secreted by retinal organoids for ocular disease treatments are summarized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peggy Arthur
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
| | - Laureana Muok
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Aakash Nathani
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
| | - Eric Z. Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Mandip Singh
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Maiti G, Monteiro de Barros MR, Hu N, Dolgalev I, Roshan M, Foster JW, Tsirigos A, Wahlin KJ, Chakravarti S. Single cell RNA-seq of human cornea organoids identifies cell fates of a developing immature cornea. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac246. [PMID: 36712326 PMCID: PMC9802453 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The cornea is a protective and refractive barrier in the eye crucial for vision. Understanding the human cornea in health, disease, and cell-based treatments can be greatly advanced with cornea organoids developed in culture from induced pluripotent stem cells. While a limited number of studies have investigated the single-cell transcriptomic composition of the human cornea, its organoids have not been examined similarly. Here, we elucidated the transcriptomic cell fate map of 4-month-old human cornea organoids and human donor corneas. The organoids harbor cell clusters that resemble cells of the corneal epithelium, stroma, and endothelium, with subpopulations that capture signatures of early developmental states. Unlike the adult cornea where the largest cell population is stromal, the organoids contain large proportions of epithelial and endothelial-like cells. These corneal organoids offer a 3D model to study corneal diseases and integrated responses of different cell types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George Maiti
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, Fifth Floor 435 E 30th, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Maithê Rocha Monteiro de Barros
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, Fifth Floor 435 E 30th, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Nan Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, Fifth Floor 435 E 30th, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Igor Dolgalev
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, Eighth Floor, 435 E 30th, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Mona Roshan
- University of California San Diego, ACTRI Building Rm Lower level 3E419, 9452 Medical Center Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - James W Foster
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins school of Medicine, Smith M037, 400 Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Aristotelis Tsirigos
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, Eighth Floor, 435 E 30th, New York, NY 10016, USA,Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Science Building, Fifth Floor 435 E 30th, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Karl J Wahlin
- University of California San Diego, ACTRI Building Rm Lower level 3E419, 9452 Medical Center Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Sanjurjo-Soriano C, Erkilic N, Damodar K, Boukhaddaoui H, Diakatou M, Garita-Hernandez M, Mamaeva D, Dubois G, Jazouli Z, Jimenez-Medina C, Goureau O, Meunier I, Kalatzis V. Retinoic acid delays initial photoreceptor differentiation and results in a highly structured mature retinal organoid. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:478. [PMID: 36114559 PMCID: PMC9482314 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-03146-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids are a valuable tool for disease modelling and therapeutic development. Many efforts have been made over the last decade to optimise protocols for the generation of organoids that correctly mimic the human retina. Most protocols use common media supplements; however, protocol-dependent variability impacts data interpretation. To date, the lack of a systematic comparison of a given protocol with or without supplements makes it difficult to determine how they influence the differentiation process and morphology of the retinal organoids. Methods A 2D-3D differentiation method was used to generate retinal organoids, which were cultured with or without the most commonly used media supplements, notably retinoic acid. Gene expression was assayed using qPCR analysis, protein expression using immunofluorescence studies, ultrastructure using electron microscopy and 3D morphology using confocal and biphoton microscopy of whole organoids. Results Retinoic acid delayed the initial stages of differentiation by modulating photoreceptor gene expression. At later stages, the presence of retinoic acid led to the generation of mature retinal organoids with a well-structured stratified photoreceptor layer containing a predominant rod population. By contrast, the absence of retinoic acid led to cone-rich organoids with a less organised and non-stratified photoreceptor layer. Conclusions This study proves the importance of supplemented media for culturing retinal organoids. More importantly, we demonstrate for the first time that the role of retinoic acid goes beyond inducing a rod cell fate to enhancing the organisation of the photoreceptor layer of the mature organoid. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-03146-x.
Collapse
|
46
|
Das A, Imanishi Y. Drug Discovery Strategies for Inherited Retinal Degenerations. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:1338. [PMID: 36138817 PMCID: PMC9495580 DOI: 10.3390/biology11091338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal degeneration is a group of blinding disorders afflicting more than 1 in 4000 worldwide. These disorders frequently cause the death of photoreceptor cells or retinal ganglion cells. In a subset of these disorders, photoreceptor cell death is a secondary consequence of retinal pigment epithelial cell dysfunction or degeneration. This manuscript reviews current efforts in identifying targets and developing small molecule-based therapies for these devastating neuronal degenerations, for which no cures exist. Photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells are metabolically demanding owing to their unique structures and functional properties. Modulations of metabolic pathways, which are disrupted in most inherited retinal degenerations, serve as promising therapeutic strategies. In monogenic disorders, great insights were previously obtained regarding targets associated with the defective pathways, including phototransduction, visual cycle, and mitophagy. In addition to these target-based drug discoveries, we will discuss how phenotypic screening can be harnessed to discover beneficial molecules without prior knowledge of their mechanisms of action. Because of major anatomical and biological differences, it has frequently been challenging to model human inherited retinal degeneration conditions using small animals such as rodents. Recent advances in stem cell-based techniques are opening new avenues to obtain pure populations of human retinal ganglion cells and retinal organoids with photoreceptor cells. We will discuss concurrent ideas of utilizing stem-cell-based disease models for drug discovery and preclinical development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arupratan Das
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Yoshikazu Imanishi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Identification of Human Retinal Organoid Cell Differentiation-Related Genes via Single-Cell Sequencing Data Analysis. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:9717599. [PMID: 35979045 PMCID: PMC9377943 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9717599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Objective. To study the development process of the human retina, we analyzed the development track of main cell types and transitional cell populations, identifying the retinal organoid cell differentiation-related genes (RDRGs). Methods. Single-cell RNA sequencing data (scRNA-Seq) of human retinal organoids were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database in this study. Data were processed with quality analysis and analysis of variance. Principal component analysis and
-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding were used to conduct dimension reduction analysis and type annotation for the screened data. Marker genes and RDRGs were identified by differential analysis. Cell differentiation characteristics were determined by trajectory analysis. Enrichment pathways were analyzed by Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG), and functional modules were obtained by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Results. iPSCs were mainly located at the root of differentiation trajectory, while neurons and astrocytes were distributed in different branches, respectively. Meanwhile, 220 RDRGs were obtained. They were involved in the biological functions related to vision and visual development, as well as significantly enriched in signaling pathways associated with retinal vascular development and retinal neuroregulation. Protein-protein interaction network construction and functional subnetwork analysis were conducted on RDRGs, and two functional submodules were obtained. The enrichment analysis presented that the two submodules played a vital role in retinal development, visual perception, and cell respiration. Conclusions. This study identified RDRGs and revealed the biological functions involved in these genes, which are expected to provide evidence for researching retinal development and diseases.
Collapse
|
48
|
Molins B, Mesquida M, Adan A. Bioengineering approaches for modelling retinal pathologies of the outer blood-retinal barrier. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022:101097. [PMID: 35840488 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Alterations of the junctional complex of the outer blood-retinal barrier (oBRB), which is integrated by the close interaction of the retinal pigment epithelium, the Bruch's membrane, and the choriocapillaris, contribute to the loss of neuronal signalling and subsequent vision impairment in several retinal inflammatory disorders such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Reductionist approaches into the mechanisms that underlie such diseases have been hindered by the absence of adequate in vitro models using human cells to provide the 3D dynamic architecture that enables expression of the in vivo phenotype of the oBRB. Conventional in vitro cell models are based on 2D monolayer cellular cultures, unable to properly recapitulate the complexity of living systems. The main drawbacks of conventional oBRB models also emerge from the cell sourcing, the lack of an appropriate Bruch's membrane analogue, and the lack of choroidal microvasculature with flow. In the last years, the advent of organ-on-a-chip, bioengineering, and stem cell technologies is providing more advanced 3D models with flow, multicellularity, and external control over microenvironmental properties. By incorporating additional biological complexity, organ-on-a-chip devices can mirror physiologically relevant properties of the native tissue while offering additional set ups to model and study disease. In this review we first examine the current understanding of oBRB biology as a functional unit, highlighting the coordinated contribution of the different components to barrier function in health and disease. Then we describe recent advances in the use of pluripotent stem cells-derived retinal cells, Bruch's membrane analogues, and co-culture techniques to recapitulate the oBRB. We finally discuss current advances and challenges of oBRB-on-a-chip technologies for disease modelling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Molins
- Group of Ocular Inflammation: Clinical and Experimental Studies, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Agustí Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), C/ Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marina Mesquida
- Group of Ocular Inflammation: Clinical and Experimental Studies, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Agustí Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), C/ Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alfredo Adan
- Group of Ocular Inflammation: Clinical and Experimental Studies, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Agustí Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), C/ Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Instituto Clínic de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, C/ Sabino de Arana 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Xue Y, Lin B, Chen JT, Tang WC, Browne AW, Seiler MJ. The Prospects for Retinal Organoids in Treatment of Retinal Diseases. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) 2022; 11:314-327. [PMID: 36041146 PMCID: PMC9966053 DOI: 10.1097/apo.0000000000000538] [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: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degeneration (RD) is a significant cause of incurable blindness worldwide. Photoreceptors and retinal pigmented epithelium are irreversibly damaged in advanced RD. Functional replacement of photoreceptors and/or retinal pigmented epithelium cells is a promising approach to restoring vision. This paper reviews the current status and explores future prospects of the transplantation therapy provided by pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids (ROs). This review summarizes the status of rodent RD disease models and discusses RO culture and analytical tools to evaluate RO quality and function. Finally, we review and discuss the studies in which RO-derived cells or sheets were transplanted. In conclusion, methods to derive ROs from pluripotent stem cells have significantly improved and become more efficient in recent years. Meanwhile, more novel technologies are applied to characterize and validate RO quality. However, opportunity remains to optimize tissue differentiation protocols and achieve better RO reproducibility. In order to screen high-quality ROs for downstream applications, approaches such as noninvasive and label-free imaging and electrophysiological functional testing are promising and worth further investigation. Lastly, transplanted RO-derived tissues have allowed improvements in visual function in several RD models, showing promises for clinical applications in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuntian Xue
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Bin Lin
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Jacqueline T. Chen
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - William C. Tang
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Andrew W. Browne
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Magdalene J. Seiler
- Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine, CA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Self-Organization of the Retina during Eye Development, Retinal Regeneration In Vivo, and in Retinal 3D Organoids In Vitro. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061458. [PMID: 35740479 PMCID: PMC9221005 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-organization is a process that ensures histogenesis of the eye retina. This highly intricate phenomenon is not sufficiently studied due to its biological complexity and genetic heterogeneity. The review aims to summarize the existing central theories and ideas for a better understanding of retinal self-organization, as well as to address various practical problems of retinal biomedicine. The phenomenon of self-organization is discussed in the spatiotemporal context and illustrated by key findings during vertebrate retina development in vivo and retinal regeneration in amphibians in situ. Described also are histotypic 3D structures obtained from the disaggregated retinal progenitor cells of birds and retinal 3D organoids derived from the mouse and human pluripotent stem cells. The review highlights integral parts of retinal development in these conditions. On the cellular level, these include competence, differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, cooperative movements, and migration. On the physical level, the focus is on the mechanical properties of cell- and cell layer-derived forces and on the molecular level on factors responsible for gene regulation, such as transcription factors, signaling molecules, and epigenetic changes. Finally, the self-organization phenomenon is discussed as a basis for the production of retinal organoids, a promising model for a wide range of basic scientific and medical applications.
Collapse
|