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Ma SC, Xie YL, Wang Q, Fu SG, Wu HZ. Application of eye organoids in the study of eye diseases. Exp Eye Res 2024; 247:110068. [PMID: 39233304 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.110068] [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: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
The eyes are one of the most important sensory organs in the human body. Currently, diseases such as limbal stem cell deficiency, cataract, retinitis pigmentosa and dry eye seriously threaten the quality of people's lives, and the treatment of advanced blinding eye disease and dry eye is ineffective and costly. Thus, new treatment modalities are urgently needed to improve patients' symptoms and suffering. In recent years, stem cell-derived three-dimensional structural organoids have been shown to mimic specific structures and functions similar to those of organs in the human body. Currently, 3D culture systems are used to construct organoids for different ocular growth and development models and ocular disease models to explore their physiological and pathological mechanisms. Eye organoids can also be used as a platform for drug screening. This paper reviews the latest research progress in regard to eye organoids (the cornea, lens, retina, lacrimal gland, and conjunctiva).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Chao Ma
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yi-Lin Xie
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qian Wang
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shan-Gui Fu
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Hong-Ze Wu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiujiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiujiang, 332007, Jiangxi, China.
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Matsushita T, Onishi A, Matsuyama T, Masuda T, Ogino Y, Kageyama M, Takahashi M, Uchiumi F. Rapid and efficient generation of mature retinal organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells via optimized pharmacological modulation of Sonic hedgehog, activin A, and retinoic acid signal transduction. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0308743. [PMID: 39121095 PMCID: PMC11315325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308743] [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: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Human retinal organoids have become indispensable tools for retinal disease modeling and drug screening. Despite its versatile applications, the long timeframe for their differentiation and maturation limits the throughput of such research. Here, we successfully shortened this timeframe by accelerating human retinal organoid development using unique pharmacological approaches. Our method comprised three key steps: 1) a modified self-formed ectodermal autonomous multizone (SEAM) method, including dual SMAD inhibition and bone morphogenetic protein 4 treatment, for initial neural retinal induction; 2) the concurrent use of a Sonic hedgehog agonist SAG, activin A, and all-trans retinoic acid for rapid retinal cell specification; and 3) switching to SAG treatment alone for robust retinal maturation and lamination. The generated retinal organoids preserved typical morphological features of mature retinal organoids, including hair-like surface structures and well-organized outer layers. These features were substantiated by the spatial immunostaining patterns of several retinal cell markers, including rhodopsin and L/M opsin expression in the outermost layer, which was accompanied by reduced ectopic cone photoreceptor generation. Importantly, our method required only 90 days for retinal organoid maturation, which is approximately two-thirds the time necessary for other conventional methods. These results indicate that thoroughly optimized pharmacological interventions play a pivotal role in rapid and precise photoreceptor development during human retinal organoid differentiation and maturation. Thus, our present method may expedite human retinal organoid research, eventually contributing to the development of better treatment options for various degenerative retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tokiyoshi Matsushita
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Gene Regulation, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
- Product Discovery, Ophthalmology Innovation Center, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Ikoma, Nara, Japan
| | - Akishi Onishi
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Cell and Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Laboratory, Baton Zone Program, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takahiro Matsuyama
- Product Discovery, Ophthalmology Innovation Center, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Ikoma, Nara, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Masuda
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Cell and Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Laboratory, Baton Zone Program, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yoko Ogino
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Gene Regulation, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kageyama
- Product Discovery, Ophthalmology Innovation Center, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Ikoma, Nara, Japan
| | - Masayo Takahashi
- Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Cell and Gene Therapy in Ophthalmology Laboratory, Baton Zone Program, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Uchiumi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Gene Regulation, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
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Zhao H, Yan F. Retinal Organoids: A Next-Generation Platform for High-Throughput Drug Discovery. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:495-508. [PMID: 38079086 PMCID: PMC10837228 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10661-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Retinal diseases are leading causes of blindness globally. Developing new drugs is of great significance for preventing vision loss. Current drug discovery relies mainly on two-dimensional in vitro models and animal models, but translation to human efficacy and safety is biased. In recent years, the emergence of retinal organoid technology platforms, utilizing three-dimensional microenvironments to better mimic retinal structure and function, has provided new platforms for exploring pathogenic mechanisms and drug screening. This review summarizes the latest advances in retinal organoid technology, emphasizing its application advantages in high-throughput drug screening, efficacy and toxicity evaluation, and translational medicine research. The review also prospects the combination of emerging technologies such as organ-on-a-chip, 3D bioprinting, single cell sequencing, gene editing with retinal organoid technology, which is expected to further optimize retinal organoid models and advance the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongkun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Fei Yan
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Basic Medicine School, Kunming Medical University, 1168 Yuhua Street, Chunrong West Road, Chenggong District, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China.
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James E, Vielle A, Cusato K, Li H, Lee B, Parween S, Howell A, Johnson NR, Chial HJ, Potter H, Vergara MN. Human iPSC-derived retinal organoids develop robust Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1340448. [PMID: 38323188 PMCID: PMC10844524 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1340448] [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: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline, affects nearly 50 million people worldwide. Amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of phosphorylated Tau protein (pTau) are key histopathological features of the disease in the brain, and recent advances have also identified AD histopathology in the retina. Thus, the retina represents a central nervous system (CNS) tissue highly amenable to non-invasive diagnostic imaging that shows promise as a biomarker for early AD. Given the devastating effects of AD on patients, their families, and society, new treatment modalities that can significantly alter the disease course are urgently needed. In this study, we have developed and characterized a novel human retinal organoid (RO) model derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with familial AD due to mutations in the amyloid precursor protein gene (APP). Using immunofluorescence and histological staining, we evaluated the cellular composition and AD histopathological features of AD-ROs compared to control ROs from healthy individuals. We found that AD-ROs largely resemble their healthy control counterparts in cellular composition but display increased levels of Aβ and pTau. We also present proof of principle of an assay to quantify amyloid levels in whole ROs. This in vitro model of the human AD retina constitutes a new tool for drug screening, biomarker discovery, and pathophysiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan James
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Anne Vielle
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Karen Cusato
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Helen Li
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Byoungin Lee
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Shama Parween
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Anna Howell
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Noah R. Johnson
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Heidi J. Chial
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Huntington Potter
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - M. Natalia Vergara
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Research Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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Du JL, Gao LX, Wang T, Ye Z, Li HY, Li W, Zeng Q, Xi JF, Yue W, Li ZH. Influence of hypoxia on retinal progenitor and ganglion cells in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids. Int J Ophthalmol 2023; 16:1574-1581. [PMID: 37854379 PMCID: PMC10559029 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2023.10.03] [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: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To observe the effect of low oxygen concentration on the neural retina in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal organoids (ROs). METHODS The hiPSC and a three-dimensional culture method were used for the experiments. Generated embryoid bodies (EBs) were randomly and equally divided into hypoxic and normoxic groups. Photographs of the EBs were taken on days 38, 45, and 52, and the corresponding volume of EBs was calculated. Simultaneously, samples were collected at these three timepoints, followed by fixation, sectioning, and immunofluorescence. RESULTS The proportion of Ki67-positive proliferating cells increased steadily on day 38; this proliferation-promoting effect tended to increase tissue density rather than tissue volume. On days 45 and 52, the two groups had relatively similar ratios of Ki67-positive cells. Further immunofluorescence analysis showed that the ratio of SOX2-positive cells significantly increased within the neural retina on day 52 (P<0.05). In contrast, the percentage of PAX6- and CHX10-positive cells significantly decreased following hypoxia treatment at all three timepoints (P<0.01), except for CHX10 at day 45 (P>0.05). Moreover, the proportion of PAX6-/TUJ1+ cells within the neural retinas increased considerably (P<0.01, <0.05, <0.05 respectively). CONCLUSION Low oxygen promotes stemness and proliferation of neural retinas, suggesting that hypoxic conditions can enlarge the retinal progenitor cell pool in hiPSC-derived ROs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Lin Du
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China
- Senior Department of Ophthalmology, the Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Li-Xiong Gao
- Departement of Ophthalmology, the 6 Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Zi Ye
- Senior Department of Ophthalmology, the Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Hong-Yu Li
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China
- Senior Department of Ophthalmology, the Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Wen Li
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China
- Senior Department of Ophthalmology, the Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Quan Zeng
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jia-Fei Xi
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Wen Yue
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Zhao-Hui Li
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China
- Senior Department of Ophthalmology, the Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
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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: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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.
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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
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Beaver D, Limnios IJ. A treatment within sight: challenges in the development of stem cell-derived photoreceptor therapies for retinal degenerative diseases. FRONTIERS IN TRANSPLANTATION 2023; 2:1130086. [PMID: 38993872 PMCID: PMC11235385 DOI: 10.3389/frtra.2023.1130086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Stem cell therapies can potentially treat various retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and inherited retinal diseases like retinitis pigmentosa. For these diseases, transplanted cells may include stem cell-derived retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells, photoreceptors, or a combination of both. Although stem cell-derived RPE cells have progressed to human clinical trials, therapies using photoreceptors and other retinal cell types are lagging. In this review, we discuss the potential use of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived photoreceptors for the treatment of retinal degeneration and highlight the progress and challenges for their efficient production and clinical application in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davinia Beaver
- Clem Jones Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QL, Australia
| | - Ioannis Jason Limnios
- Clem Jones Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QL, Australia
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Wong NK, Yip SP, Huang CL. Establishing Functional Retina in a Dish: Progress and Promises of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Retinal Neuron Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13652. [PMID: 37686457 PMCID: PMC10487913 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The human eye plays a critical role in vision perception, but various retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can lead to vision loss or blindness. Although progress has been made in understanding retinal development and in clinical research, current treatments remain inadequate for curing or reversing these degenerative conditions. Animal models have limited relevance to humans, and obtaining human eye tissue samples is challenging due to ethical and legal considerations. Consequently, researchers have turned to stem cell-based approaches, specifically induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to generate distinct retinal cell populations and develop cell replacement therapies. iPSCs offer a novel platform for studying the key stages of human retinogenesis and disease-specific mechanisms. Stem cell technology has facilitated the production of diverse retinal cell types, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and photoreceptors, and the development of retinal organoids has emerged as a valuable in vitro tool for investigating retinal neuron differentiation and modeling retinal diseases. This review focuses on the protocols, culture conditions, and techniques employed in differentiating retinal neurons from iPSCs. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significance of molecular and functional validation of the differentiated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonthaphat Kent Wong
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shea Ping Yip
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chien-Ling Huang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
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Móvio MI, de Lima-Vasconcellos TH, Dos Santos GB, Echeverry MB, Colombo E, Mattos LS, Resende RR, Kihara AH. Retinal organoids from human-induced pluripotent stem cells: From studying retinal dystrophies to early diagnosis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 144:77-86. [PMID: 36210260 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have provided new methods to study neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to their wide application in neuronal disorders, hiPSCs technology can also encompass specific conditions, such as inherited retinal dystrophies. The possibility of evaluating alterations related to retinal disorders in 3D organoids increases the truthfulness of in vitro models. Moreover, both Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) have been described as causing early retinal alterations, generating beta-amyloid protein accumulation, or affecting dopaminergic amacrine cells. This review addresses recent advances and future perspectives obtained from in vitro modeling of retinal diseases, focusing on retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Additionally, we depicted the possibility of evaluating changes related to AD and PD in retinal organoids obtained from potential patients long before the onset of the disease, constituting a valuable tool in early diagnosis. With this, we pointed out prospects in the study of retinal dystrophies and early diagnosis of AD and PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marília Inês Móvio
- Laboratório de Neurogenética, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcela Bermudez Echeverry
- Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Elisabetta Colombo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Leonardo S Mattos
- Biomedical Robotics Laboratory, Department of Advanced Robotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Rodrigo Ribeiro Resende
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Hiroaki Kihara
- Laboratório de Neurogenética, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil; Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
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10
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Shen W, Shao A, Zhou W, Lou L, Grzybowski A, Jin K, Ye J. Retinogenesis in a Dish: Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of Retinal Organoids From 2011 to 2022. Cell Transplant 2023; 32:9636897231214321. [PMID: 38044501 PMCID: PMC10695087 DOI: 10.1177/09636897231214321] [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: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal organoid (RO) is the three-dimensional (3D) retinal culture derived from pluripotent or embryonic stem cells which recapitulates organ functions, which was a revolutionary milestone in stem cell technology. The purpose of this study is to explore the hotspots and future directions on ROs, as well as to better understand the fields of greatest research opportunities. Eligible publications related to RO from 2011 to 2022 were acquired from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database. Bibliometric analysis was performed by using software including VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and ArcGIS. A total of 520 articles were included, and the number of annual publications showed a rapid increase with an average rate of 40.86%. The United States published the most articles (241/520, 46.35%) with highest total citation frequencies (5,344). University College London (UK) contributed the largest publication output (40/520, 7.69%) and received highest total citation frequencies. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science was the most productive journal with 129 articles. Majlinda Lako contributed the most research with 32 articles, while Olivier Goureau has the strongest collaboration work. Research could be subdivided into four keyword clusters: "culture and differentiation," "morphogenesis and modeling," "gene therapy," and "transplantation and visual restoration," and evolution of keywords was identified. Last decade has witnessed the huge progress in the field of RO, which is a young and promising research area with extensive and in-depth studies. More attention should be paid to RO-related models and therapies based on specific retinal diseases, especially inherited retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyue Shen
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - An Shao
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wuyuan Zhou
- Zhejiang Academy of Science and Technology Information, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lixia Lou
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Andrzej Grzybowski
- Institute for Research in Ophthalmology, Foundation for Ophthalmology Development, Poznan, Poland
| | - Kai Jin
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Juan Ye
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou, China
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11
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Generation of Human iPSC-Derived Retinal Organoids for Assessment of AAV-Mediated Gene Delivery. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2560:287-302. [PMID: 36481905 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2651-1_27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Human retinal organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) serve as a promising preclinical model for testing the safety and efficacy of viral gene therapy. Retinal organoids recapitulate the stratified multilayered epithelium structure of the developing and maturating human retina. As such, retinal organoids are unique tools to model retinal disease and to test therapeutic interventions toward their amelioration. Here, we describe a method for the generation of human iPSC-derived retinal organoids and how they can be utilized for the assessment of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV)-mediated gene delivery.
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12
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Chien Y, Hsiao YJ, Chou SJ, Lin TY, Yarmishyn AA, Lai WY, Lee MS, Lin YY, Lin TW, Hwang DK, Lin TC, Chiou SH, Chen SJ, Yang YP. Nanoparticles-mediated CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy in inherited retinal diseases: applications, challenges, and emerging opportunities. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:511. [DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01717-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractInherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs) are considered one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. However, the majority of them still lack a safe and effective treatment due to their complexity and genetic heterogeneity. Recently, gene therapy is gaining importance as an efficient strategy to address IRDs which were previously considered incurable. The development of the clustered regularly-interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has strongly empowered the field of gene therapy. However, successful gene modifications rely on the efficient delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 components into the complex three-dimensional (3D) architecture of the human retinal tissue. Intriguing findings in the field of nanoparticles (NPs) meet all the criteria required for CRISPR-Cas9 delivery and have made a great contribution toward its therapeutic applications. In addition, exploiting induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology and in vitro 3D retinal organoids paved the way for prospective clinical trials of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in treating IRDs. This review highlights important advances in NP-based gene therapy, the CRISPR-Cas9 system, and iPSC-derived retinal organoids with a focus on IRDs. Collectively, these studies establish a multidisciplinary approach by integrating nanomedicine and stem cell technologies and demonstrate the utility of retina organoids in developing effective therapies for IRDs.
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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: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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.
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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.
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14
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Hofmann B, Zinöcker S, Holm S, Lewis J, Kavouras P. Organoids in the Clinic: A Systematic Review of Outcomes. Cells Tissues Organs 2022; 212:499-511. [PMID: 36170843 PMCID: PMC10906541 DOI: 10.1159/000527237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on organoids has undergone significant advances during the last decade. However, outcomes from the use of organoids in clinical trials have not yet been documented. Therefore, there is an urgent need to assess the reporting of clinically relevant outcomes from organoid research in the scientific literature. This article presents a systematic review and appraisal of the published literature in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, together with a synopsis of recent relevant reviews. Surprisingly, no randomized controlled trials have reported clinical outcomes with any types of organoids. We found very few ongoing and registered studies that may provide clinically relevant results within this decade. Our screening and interpretation of the literature, including review articles, indicate a focus on technical and preclinical aspects of organoid research. This is the first systematic review of clinical trials involving organoids. Few clinical studies are planned or already underway, and, so far, no high-quality evidence relating to the clinical outcomes of organoid research has been published. The many promises of organoid research still need to be translated from bench to bed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjørn Hofmann
- Centre for Medical Ethics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Gjøvik, Norway
| | - Severin Zinöcker
- Centre for Medical Ethics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Søren Holm
- Centre for Medical Ethics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, Department of Law, School of Social Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jonathan Lewis
- Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, Department of Law, School of Social Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Panagiotis Kavouras
- RNanoLab, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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15
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Uppada S, Zou D, Scott EM, Ko G, Pflugfelder S, Kumar MNVR, Ganugula R. Paclitaxel and Urolithin A Prevent Histamine-Induced Neurovascular Breakdown Alike, in an Ex Vivo Rat Eye Model. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:2092-2098. [PMID: 35574761 PMCID: PMC9928511 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurovascular eye problems are better prevented than managed or treated. Despite growing concern of occurrence in aging populations and development secondary to diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, we currently have very few options to tackle this global problem. Creating effective and high-throughput screening strategies is as important as the intervention itself. Here, we present for the first time a robust ex vivo rat eye model of histamine-induced vascular damage for investigating the therapeutic potential of paclitaxel (PTX) and urolithin A (UA) as alternatives to dexamethasone for preventing vascular damage in the retina. Extensive loss of vascularization and apoptosis were observed in the histamine-challenged group and successfully prevented in the intervention groups, more significantly in the PTX and UA. These important early results indicate that PTX and UA could be developed as potential preventive strategies for a wide variety of retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srijayaprakash Uppada
- The Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine (CCBM), The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401, United States; College of Community Health Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401, United States
| | - Dianxiong Zou
- College of Community Health Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401, United States
| | - Erin M. Scott
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Gladys Ko
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Stephen Pflugfelder
- Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - M. N. V. Ravi Kumar
- The Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine (CCBM), The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401, United States; College of Community Health Sciences and Alabama Life Research Institute, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401, United States; Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401, United States
| | - Raghu Ganugula
- The Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine (CCBM), The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401, United States; College of Community Health Sciences and Alabama Life Research Institute, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401, United States; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401, United States
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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.
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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
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Martinelli I, Tayebati SK, Tomassoni D, Nittari G, Roy P, Amenta F. Brain and Retinal Organoids for Disease Modeling: The Importance of In Vitro Blood–Brain and Retinal Barriers Studies. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071120. [PMID: 35406683 PMCID: PMC8997725 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain and retinal organoids are functional and dynamic in vitro three-dimensional (3D) structures derived from pluripotent stem cells that spontaneously organize themselves to their in vivo counterparts. Here, we review the main literature data of how these organoids have been developed through different protocols and how they have been technically analyzed. Moreover, this paper reviews recent advances in using organoids to model neurological and retinal diseases, considering their potential for translational applications but also pointing out their limitations. Since the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and blood–retinal barrier (BRB) are understood to play a fundamental role respectively in brain and eye functions, both in health and in disease, we provide an overview of the progress in the development techniques of in vitro models as reliable and predictive screening tools for BBB and BRB-penetrating compounds. Furthermore, we propose potential future directions for brain and retinal organoids, in which dedicated biobanks will represent a novel tool for neuroscience and ophthalmology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Martinelli
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Seyed Khosrow Tayebati
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
| | - Daniele Tomassoni
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.T.); (P.R.)
| | - Giulio Nittari
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
| | - Proshanta Roy
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.T.); (P.R.)
| | - Francesco Amenta
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
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18
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Harvey JP, Sladen PE, Yu-Wai-Man P, Cheetham ME. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Inherited Optic Neuropathies-Disease Modeling and Therapeutic Development. J Neuroophthalmol 2022; 42:35-44. [PMID: 34629400 DOI: 10.1097/wno.0000000000001375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inherited optic neuropathies (IONs) cause progressive irreversible visual loss in children and young adults. There are limited disease-modifying treatments, and most patients progress to become severely visually impaired, fulfilling the legal criteria for blind registration. The seminal discovery of the technique for reprogramming somatic nondividing cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has opened several exciting opportunities in the field of ION research and treatment. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION A systematic review of the literature was conducted with PubMed using the following search terms: autosomal dominant optic atrophy, ADOA, dominant optic atrophy, DOA, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, LHON, optic atrophy, induced pluripotent stem cell, iPSC, iPSC derived, iPS, stem cell, retinal ganglion cell, and RGC. Clinical trials were identified on the ClinicalTrials.gov website. RESULTS This review article is focused on disease modeling and the therapeutic strategies being explored with iPSC technologies for the 2 most common IONs, namely, dominant optic atrophy and Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. The rationale and translational advances for cell-based and gene-based therapies are explored, as well as opportunities for neuroprotection and drug screening. CONCLUSIONS iPSCs offer an elegant, patient-focused solution to the investigation of the genetic defects and disease mechanisms underpinning IONs. Furthermore, this group of disorders is uniquely amenable to both the disease modeling capability and the therapeutic potential that iPSCs offer. This fast-moving area will remain at the forefront of both basic and translational ION research in the coming years, with the potential to accelerate the development of effective therapies for patients affected with these blinding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Paul Harvey
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (JPH, PES, PY-W-M, MC), London, United Kingdom; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (JPH, PY-W-M), London, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical Neurosciences (PY-W-M), Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and Department of Clinical Neurosciences (PY-W-M), John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair and MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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19
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Andreazzoli M, Barravecchia I, De Cesari C, Angeloni D, Demontis GC. Inducible Pluripotent Stem Cells to Model and Treat Inherited Degenerative Diseases of the Outer Retina: 3D-Organoids Limitations and Bioengineering Solutions. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092489. [PMID: 34572137 PMCID: PMC8471616 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) affecting either photoreceptors or pigment epithelial cells cause progressive visual loss and severe disability, up to complete blindness. Retinal organoids (ROs) technologies opened up the development of human inducible pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) for disease modeling and replacement therapies. However, hiPSC-derived ROs applications to IRD presently display limited maturation and functionality, with most photoreceptors lacking well-developed outer segments (OS) and light responsiveness comparable to their adult retinal counterparts. In this review, we address for the first time the microenvironment where OS mature, i.e., the subretinal space (SRS), and discuss SRS role in photoreceptors metabolic reprogramming required for OS generation. We also address bioengineering issues to improve culture systems proficiency to promote OS maturation in hiPSC-derived ROs. This issue is crucial, as satisfying the demanding metabolic needs of photoreceptors may unleash hiPSC-derived ROs full potential for disease modeling, drug development, and replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ivana Barravecchia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | | | - Debora Angeloni
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Gian Carlo Demontis
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Correspondence: (M.A.); (G.C.D.)
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20
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Vielle A, Park YK, Secora C, Vergara MN. Organoids for the Study of Retinal Development and Developmental Abnormalities. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:667880. [PMID: 34025363 PMCID: PMC8131530 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.667880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The cumulative knowledge of retina development has been instrumental in the generation of retinal organoid systems from pluripotent stem cells; and these three-dimensional organoid models, in turn, have provided unprecedented opportunities for retinal research and translational applications, including the ability to model disease in a human setting and to apply these models to the development and validation of therapeutic drugs. In this review article, we examine how retinal organoids can also contribute to our understanding of retinal developmental mechanisms, how this knowledge can be applied to modeling developmental abnormalities, and highlight some of the avenues that remain to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Vielle
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.,Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Yuna K Park
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Conner Secora
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.,Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Aurora, CO, United States.,Master of Science in Modern Human Anatomy Program, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - M Natalia Vergara
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.,Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Aurora, CO, United States
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21
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Mainland JD, Barlow LA, Munger SD, Millar SE, Vergara MN, Jiang P, Schwob JE, Goldstein BJ, Boye SE, Martens JR, Leopold DA, Bartoshuk LM, Doty RL, Hummel T, Pinto JM, Trimmer C, Kelly C, Pribitkin EA, Reed DR. Identifying Treatments for Taste and Smell Disorders: Gaps and Opportunities. Chem Senses 2020; 45:493-502. [PMID: 32556127 PMCID: PMC7545248 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjaa038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The chemical senses of taste and smell play a vital role in conveying information about ourselves and our environment. Tastes and smells can warn against danger and also contribute to the daily enjoyment of food, friends and family, and our surroundings. Over 12% of the US population is estimated to experience taste and smell (chemosensory) dysfunction. Yet, despite this high prevalence, long-term, effective treatments for these disorders have been largely elusive. Clinical successes in other sensory systems, including hearing and vision, have led to new hope for developments in the treatment of chemosensory disorders. To accelerate cures, we convened the "Identifying Treatments for Taste and Smell Disorders" conference, bringing together basic and translational sensory scientists, health care professionals, and patients to identify gaps in our current understanding of chemosensory dysfunction and next steps in a broad-based research strategy. Their suggestions for high-yield next steps were focused in 3 areas: increasing awareness and research capacity (e.g., patient advocacy), developing and enhancing clinical measures of taste and smell, and supporting new avenues of research into cellular and therapeutic approaches (e.g., developing human chemosensory cell lines, stem cells, and gene therapy approaches). These long-term strategies led to specific suggestions for immediate research priorities that focus on expanding our understanding of specific responses of chemosensory cells and developing valuable assays to identify and document cell development, regeneration, and function. Addressing these high-priority areas should accelerate the development of novel and effective treatments for taste and smell disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Linda A Barlow
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Steven D Munger
- Center for Smell and Taste, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 1200 Newell Drive, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sarah E Millar
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - M Natalia Vergara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Peihua Jiang
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James E Schwob
- Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bradley J Goldstein
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, 40 Duke Medicine Cir Clinic 1F, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shannon E Boye
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Martens
- Center for Smell and Taste, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 1200 Newell Drive, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Donald A Leopold
- Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Linda M Bartoshuk
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Center for Smell and Taste, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Richard L Doty
- Smell and Taste Center and Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, 3400 Spruce Street, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jayant M Pinto
- Section of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, MC, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | - Edmund A Pribitkin
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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22
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Singh RK, Nasonkin IO. Limitations and Promise of Retinal Tissue From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells for Developing Therapies of Blindness. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:179. [PMID: 33132839 PMCID: PMC7513806 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The self-formation of retinal tissue from pluripotent stem cells generated a tremendous promise for developing new therapies of retinal degenerative diseases, which previously seemed unattainable. Together with use of induced pluripotent stem cells or/and CRISPR-based recombineering the retinal organoid technology provided an avenue for developing models of human retinal degenerative diseases "in a dish" for studying the pathology, delineating the mechanisms and also establishing a platform for large-scale drug screening. At the same time, retinal organoids, highly resembling developing human fetal retinal tissue, are viewed as source of multipotential retinal progenitors, young photoreceptors and just the whole retinal tissue, which may be transplanted into the subretinal space with a goal of replacing patient's degenerated retina with a new retinal "patch." Both approaches (transplantation and modeling/drug screening) were projected when Yoshiki Sasai demonstrated the feasibility of deriving mammalian retinal tissue from pluripotent stem cells, and generated a lot of excitement. With further work and testing of both approaches in vitro and in vivo, a major implicit limitation has become apparent pretty quickly: the absence of the uniform layer of Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) cells, which is normally present in mammalian retina, surrounds photoreceptor layer and develops and matures first. The RPE layer polarize into apical and basal sides during development and establish microvilli on the apical side, interacting with photoreceptors, nurturing photoreceptor outer segments and participating in the visual cycle by recycling 11-trans retinal (bleached pigment) back to 11-cis retinal. Retinal organoids, however, either do not have RPE layer or carry patches of RPE mostly on one side, thus directly exposing most photoreceptors in the developing organoids to neural medium. Recreation of the critical retinal niche between the apical RPE and photoreceptors, where many retinal disease mechanisms originate, is so far unattainable, imposes clear limitations on both modeling/drug screening and transplantation approaches and is a focus of investigation in many labs. Here we dissect different retinal degenerative diseases and analyze how and where retinal organoid technology can contribute the most to developing therapies even with a current limitation and absence of long and functional outer segments, supported by RPE.
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24
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Kegeles E, Perepelkina T, Baranov P. Semi-Automated Approach for Retinal Tissue Differentiation. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2020; 9:24. [PMID: 33024617 PMCID: PMC7521179 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.10.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Three-dimensional strategy for the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells to the retina has been widely used to study retinal development, although the cell production and drug discovery applications are limited by the throughput. Here we attempted to scale up the protocol using a semiautomated approach. Methods For the experiments we used the Rx-GFP mouse embryonic stem cell (mES) reporter cell line, specific for early retinal development and human embryonic stem cell line Brn3b-tdTomato, specific for retinal ganglion cells. To increase the throughput, we implemented automated media exchange using Thermo WellWash Versa with Thermo RapidStack robot. To analyze the rate of retinal differentiation in mouse stem-cell derived organoids we imaged the plates at day 10 of differentiation using Life Technologies EVOS Fl Auto. The automated image analysis of fluorescent images was performed with custom Python OpenCV script. Results The implementation of a semiautomated approach significantly reduced the operator time needed: 34 minutes versus two hours for 960 organoids over the course of 25 days without any change in differentiation pattern and quantity of retinal differentiation. Automated image analysis showed that Forskolin treatment starting from day 1 leads to a significant increase in retinal field induction efficiency. Conclusions Semiautomated approach can be applied to retinal tissue differentiation to increase the throughput of the protocol. We demonstrated that automated image analysis can be used to evaluate differentiation efficiency, as well as for troubleshooting and to study factors affecting retinal differentiation. Translational Relevance Using robotic approach reduces the risk of human error and allows to perform all cycle of cell production in enclosed conditions, which is critical for GMP cell manufacture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenii Kegeles
- The Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudniy, Russia
| | - Tatiana Perepelkina
- The Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Petr Baranov
- The Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Fligor CM, Huang KC, Lavekar SS, VanderWall KB, Meyer JS. Differentiation of retinal organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. Methods Cell Biol 2020; 159:279-302. [PMID: 32586447 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) possess the remarkable ability to differentiate into any cell type of the body, including those of the retina. Through the differentiation of these cells as retinal organoids, it is now possible to model the spatial and temporal development of the human retina using hPSCs, in which retinal progenitor cells produce the entire repertoire of retinal cells, first differentiating into retinal ganglion cells and ending with mature photoreceptors, bipolar cells, and Müller glia. Importantly, retinal organoids self-assemble into laminated structures that recapitulate the layering of the human retina with a retinal ganglion cell layer lining the inner layer and a distinctly separate photoreceptor layer occupying the outer layers. This organoid technology has provided access to human tissue for developmental and disease modeling, as well as translational applications such as high throughput drug screening and cell replacement therapies. However, the differentiation of retinal organoids does require some expertise and multiple strategies produce inconsistent results. Here, we describe in detail a well-established and relatively simple method for the generation of retinal organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarisse M Fligor
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Kang-Chieh Huang
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Sailee S Lavekar
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Kirstin B VanderWall
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Jason S Meyer
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Department of Ophthalmology, Glick Eye Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
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