1
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Dorgau B, Collin J, Rozanska A, Zerti D, Unsworth A, Crosier M, Hussain R, Coxhead J, Dhanaseelan T, Patel A, Sowden JC, FitzPatrick DR, Queen R, Lako M. Single-cell analyses reveal transient retinal progenitor cells in the ciliary margin of developing human retina. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3567. [PMID: 38670973 PMCID: PMC11053058 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47933-x] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of retinal progenitor cells and differentiation to various retinal cell types represent fundamental processes during retinal development. Herein, we provide a comprehensive single cell characterisation of transcriptional and chromatin accessibility changes that underline retinal progenitor cell specification and differentiation over the course of human retinal development up to midgestation. Our lineage trajectory data demonstrate the presence of early retinal progenitors, which transit to late, and further to transient neurogenic progenitors, that give rise to all the retinal neurons. Combining single cell RNA-Seq with spatial transcriptomics of early eye samples, we demonstrate the transient presence of early retinal progenitors in the ciliary margin zone with decreasing occurrence from 8 post-conception week of human development. In retinal progenitor cells, we identified a significant enrichment for transcriptional enhanced associate domain transcription factor binding motifs, which when inhibited led to loss of cycling progenitors and retinal identity in pluripotent stem cell derived organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birthe Dorgau
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Joseph Collin
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Agata Rozanska
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Darin Zerti
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Moira Crosier
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | | | | | | | - Aara Patel
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - David R FitzPatrick
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rachel Queen
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
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2
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Kondoh H. Multiple Cell Lineages Give Rise to a Cell Type. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 72:83-104. [PMID: 38509253 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-39027-2_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
It has long been assumed that a specific cell type arises following stepwise specification of cells corresponding to the branching of cell lineages. However, accumulating evidence indicates that multiple and even remote cell lineages can lead to the development of the same cells. Four examples giving different yet new insights will be discussed: skeletal muscle development from precursors with distinct initial histories of transcriptional regulation, lens cell development from remote lineages yet sharing basic transcription factors, blood cell development under intersectional pathways, and neural tissue development from cardiac precursors through the manipulation of just one component of epigenetic regulation. These examples provide flexible and nondogmatic perspectives on developmental cell regulation, fundamentally revising the old model relying on cell lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisato Kondoh
- Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Biohistory Research Hall, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan
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3
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Wong NK, Yip SP, Huang CL. Establishing Functional Retina in a Dish: Progress and Promises of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Retinal Neuron Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13652. [PMID: 37686457 PMCID: PMC10487913 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The human eye plays a critical role in vision perception, but various retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can lead to vision loss or blindness. Although progress has been made in understanding retinal development and in clinical research, current treatments remain inadequate for curing or reversing these degenerative conditions. Animal models have limited relevance to humans, and obtaining human eye tissue samples is challenging due to ethical and legal considerations. Consequently, researchers have turned to stem cell-based approaches, specifically induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to generate distinct retinal cell populations and develop cell replacement therapies. iPSCs offer a novel platform for studying the key stages of human retinogenesis and disease-specific mechanisms. Stem cell technology has facilitated the production of diverse retinal cell types, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and photoreceptors, and the development of retinal organoids has emerged as a valuable in vitro tool for investigating retinal neuron differentiation and modeling retinal diseases. This review focuses on the protocols, culture conditions, and techniques employed in differentiating retinal neurons from iPSCs. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significance of molecular and functional validation of the differentiated cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonthaphat Kent Wong
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shea Ping Yip
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chien-Ling Huang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
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4
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Subramani M, Van Hook MJ, Ahmad I. Reproducible generation of human retinal ganglion cells from banked retinal progenitor cells: analysis of target recognition and IGF-1-mediated axon regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1214104. [PMID: 37519299 PMCID: PMC10373790 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1214104] [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: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The selective degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is a common feature in glaucoma, a complex group of diseases, leading to irreversible vision loss. Stem cell-based glaucoma disease modeling, cell replacement, and axon regeneration are viable approaches to understand mechanisms underlying glaucomatous degeneration for neuroprotection, ex vivo stem cell therapy, and therapeutic regeneration. These approaches require direct and facile generation of human RGCs (hRGCs) from pluripotent stem cells. Here, we demonstrate a method for rapid generation of hRGCs from banked human pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs) by recapitulating the developmental mechanism. The resulting hRGCs are stable, functional, and transplantable and have the potential for target recognition, demonstrating their suitability for both ex vivo stem cell approaches to glaucomatous degeneration and disease modeling. Additionally, we demonstrate that hRGCs derived from banked hRPCs are capable of regenerating their axons through an evolutionarily conserved mechanism involving insulin-like growth factor 1 and the mTOR axis, demonstrating their potential to identify and characterize the underlying mechanism(s) that can be targeted for therapeutic regeneration.
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5
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Ge Y, Chen X, Nan N, Bard J, Wu F, Yergeau D, Liu T, Wang J, Mu X. Key transcription factors influence the epigenetic landscape to regulate retinal cell differentiation. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:2151-2176. [PMID: 36715342 PMCID: PMC10018358 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad026] [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: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
How the diverse neural cell types emerge from multipotent neural progenitor cells during central nervous system development remains poorly understood. Recent scRNA-seq studies have delineated the developmental trajectories of individual neural cell types in many neural systems including the neural retina. Further understanding of the formation of neural cell diversity requires knowledge about how the epigenetic landscape shifts along individual cell lineages and how key transcription factors regulate these changes. In this study, we dissect the changes in the epigenetic landscape during early retinal cell differentiation by scATAC-seq and identify globally the enhancers, enriched motifs, and potential interacting transcription factors underlying the cell state/type specific gene expression in individual lineages. Using CUT&Tag, we further identify the enhancers bound directly by four key transcription factors, Otx2, Atoh7, Pou4f2 and Isl1, including those dependent on Atoh7, and uncover the sequential and combinatorial interactions of these factors with the epigenetic landscape to control gene expression along individual retinal cell lineages such as retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Our results reveal a general paradigm in which transcription factors collaborate and compete to regulate the emergence of distinct retinal cell types such as RGCs from multipotent retinal progenitor cells (RPCs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Ge
- Department of Ophthalmology/Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Xushen Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology/Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Nan Nan
- Department of Ophthalmology/Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan Bard
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Fuguo Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology/Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Donald Yergeau
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jie Wang
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Jie Wang.
| | - Xiuqian Mu
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 716 881 7463; Fax: +1 716 887 2991;
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6
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Luo Z, Chang KC, Wu S, Sun C, Xia X, Nahmou M, Bian M, Wen RR, Zhu Y, Shah S, Tanasa B, Wernig M, Goldberg JL. Directly induced human retinal ganglion cells mimic fetal RGCs and are neuroprotective after transplantation in vivo. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:2690-2703. [PMID: 36368332 PMCID: PMC9768574 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) replacement therapy could restore vision in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies. We developed a rapid protocol for directly induced RGC (iRGC) differentiation from human stem cells, leveraging overexpression of NGN2. Neuronal morphology and neurite growth were observed within 1 week of induction; characteristic RGC-specific gene expression confirmed identity. Calcium imaging demonstrated γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced excitation characteristic of immature RGCs. Single-cell RNA sequencing showed more similarities between iRGCs and early-stage fetal human RGCs than retinal organoid-derived RGCs. Intravitreally transplanted iRGCs survived and migrated into host retinas independent of prior optic nerve trauma, but iRGCs protected host RGCs from neurodegeneration. These data demonstrate rapid iRGC generation in vitro into an immature cell with high similarity to human fetal RGCs and capacity for retinal integration after transplantation and neuroprotective function after optic nerve injury. The simplicity of this system may benefit translational studies on human RGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziming Luo
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Kun-Che Chang
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA,Department of Ophthalmology and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA,Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Suqian Wu
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Catalina Sun
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Xin Xia
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Michael Nahmou
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Minjuan Bian
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Rain R. Wen
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Ying Zhu
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Sahil Shah
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Bogdan Tanasa
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Marius Wernig
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Jeffrey L. Goldberg
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA,Corresponding author
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7
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Finkbeiner C, Ortuño-Lizarán I, Sridhar A, Hooper M, Petter S, Reh TA. Single-cell ATAC-seq of fetal human retina and stem-cell-derived retinal organoids shows changing chromatin landscapes during cell fate acquisition. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110294. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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8
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Wagstaff EL, Heredero Berzal A, Boon CJF, Quinn PMJ, ten Asbroek ALMA, Bergen AA. The Role of Small Molecules and Their Effect on the Molecular Mechanisms of Early Retinal Organoid Development. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7081. [PMID: 34209272 PMCID: PMC8268497 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Early in vivo embryonic retinal development is a well-documented and evolutionary conserved process. The specification towards eye development is temporally controlled by consecutive activation or inhibition of multiple key signaling pathways, such as the Wnt and hedgehog signaling pathways. Recently, with the use of retinal organoids, researchers aim to manipulate these pathways to achieve better human representative models for retinal development and disease. To achieve this, a plethora of different small molecules and signaling factors have been used at various time points and concentrations in retinal organoid differentiations, with varying success. Additions differ from protocol to protocol, but their usefulness or efficiency has not yet been systematically reviewed. Interestingly, many of these small molecules affect the same and/or multiple pathways, leading to reduced reproducibility and high variability between studies. In this review, we make an inventory of the key signaling pathways involved in early retinogenesis and their effect on the development of the early retina in vitro. Further, we provide a comprehensive overview of the small molecules and signaling factors that are added to retinal organoid differentiation protocols, documenting the molecular and functional effects of these additions. Lastly, we comparatively evaluate several of these factors using our established retinal organoid methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie L. Wagstaff
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Andrea Heredero Berzal
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.H.B.); (C.J.F.B.)
| | - Camiel J. F. Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.H.B.); (C.J.F.B.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter M. J. Quinn
- Jonas Children’s Vision Care and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Departments of Ophthalmology, Pathology & Cell Biology, Institute of Human Nutrition, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center—New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | | | - Arthur A. Bergen
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA), 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.H.B.); (C.J.F.B.)
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN-KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Retinal Ganglion Cell Transplantation: Approaches for Overcoming Challenges to Functional Integration. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061426. [PMID: 34200991 PMCID: PMC8228580 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
As part of the central nervous system, mammalian retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) lack significant regenerative capacity. Glaucoma causes progressive and irreversible vision loss by damaging RGCs and their axons, which compose the optic nerve. To functionally restore vision, lost RGCs must be replaced. Despite tremendous advancements in experimental models of optic neuropathy that have elucidated pathways to induce endogenous RGC neuroprotection and axon regeneration, obstacles to achieving functional visual recovery through exogenous RGC transplantation remain. Key challenges include poor graft survival, low donor neuron localization to the host retina, and inadequate dendritogenesis and synaptogenesis with afferent amacrine and bipolar cells. In this review, we summarize the current state of experimental RGC transplantation, and we propose a set of standard approaches to quantifying and reporting experimental outcomes in order to guide a collective effort to advance the field toward functional RGC replacement and optic nerve regeneration.
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10
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Lyu J, Mu X. Genetic control of retinal ganglion cell genesis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:4417-4433. [PMID: 33782712 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03814-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the only projection neurons in the neural retina. They receive and integrate visual signals from upstream retinal neurons in the visual circuitry and transmit them to the brain. The function of RGCs is performed by the approximately 40 RGC types projecting to various central brain targets. RGCs are the first cell type to form during retinogenesis. The specification and differentiation of the RGC lineage is a stepwise process; a hierarchical gene regulatory network controlling the RGC lineage has been identified and continues to be elaborated. Recent studies with single-cell transcriptomics have led to unprecedented new insights into their types and developmental trajectory. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the functions and relationships of the many regulators of the specification and differentiation of the RGC lineage. We emphasize the roles of these key transcription factors and pathways in different developmental steps, including the transition from retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) to RGCs, RGC differentiation, generation of diverse RGC types, and central projection of the RGC axons. We discuss critical issues that remain to be addressed for a comprehensive understanding of these different aspects of RGC genesis and emerging technologies, including single-cell techniques, novel genetic tools and resources, and high-throughput genome editing and screening assays, which can be leveraged in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyi Lyu
- Department of Ophthalmology/Ross Eye Institute, State University of New York At Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Xiuqian Mu
- Department of Ophthalmology/Ross Eye Institute, State University of New York At Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
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11
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Retinal Genomic Fabric Remodeling after Optic Nerve Injury. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12030403. [PMID: 33799827 PMCID: PMC7999523 DOI: 10.3390/genes12030403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease, characterized by degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). There has been little progress in developing efficient strategies for neuroprotection in glaucoma. We profiled the retina transcriptome of Lister Hooded rats at 2 weeks after optic nerve crush (ONC) and analyzed the data from the genomic fabric paradigm (GFP) to bring additional insights into the molecular mechanisms of the retinal remodeling after induction of RGC degeneration. GFP considers three independent characteristics for the expression of each gene: level, variability, and correlation with each other gene. Thus, the 17,657 quantified genes in our study generated a total of 155,911,310 values to analyze. This represents 8830x more data per condition than a traditional transcriptomic analysis. ONC led to a 57% reduction in RGC numbers as detected by retrograde labeling with 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3,3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI). We observed a higher relative expression variability after ONC. Gene expression stability was used as a measure of transcription control and disclosed a robust reduction in the number of very stably expressed genes. Predicted protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis with STRING revealed axon and neuron projection as mostly decreased processes, consistent with RGC degeneration. Conversely, immune response PPIs were found among upregulated genes. Enrichment analysis showed that complement cascade and Notch signaling pathway, as well as oxidative stress and kit receptor pathway were affected after ONC. To expand our studies of altered molecular pathways, we examined the pairwise coordination of gene expressions within each pathway and within the entire transcriptome using Pearson correlations. ONC increased the number of synergistically coordinated pairs of genes and the number of similar profiles mainly in complement cascade and Notch signaling pathway. This deep bioinformatic study provided novel insights beyond the regulation of individual gene expression and disclosed changes in the control of expression of complement cascade and Notch signaling functional pathways that may be relevant for both RGC degeneration and remodeling of the retinal tissue after ONC.
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12
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Wu F, Bard JE, Kann J, Yergeau D, Sapkota D, Ge Y, Hu Z, Wang J, Liu T, Mu X. Single cell transcriptomics reveals lineage trajectory of retinal ganglion cells in wild-type and Atoh7-null retinas. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1465. [PMID: 33674582 PMCID: PMC7935890 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21704-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Atoh7 has been believed to be essential for establishing the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) lineage, and Pou4f2 and Isl1 are known to regulate RGC specification and differentiation. Here we report our further study of the roles of these transcription factors. Using bulk RNA-seq, we identify genes regulated by the three transcription factors, which expand our understanding of the scope of downstream events. Using scRNA-seq on wild-type and mutant retinal cells, we reveal a transitional cell state of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) co-marked by Atoh7 and other genes for different lineages and shared by all early retinal lineages. We further discover the unexpected emergence of the RGC lineage in the absence of Atoh7. We conclude that competence of RPCs for different retinal fates is defined by lineage-specific genes co-expressed in the transitional state and that Atoh7 defines the RGC competence and collaborates with other factors to shepherd transitional RPCs to the RGC lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuguo Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology/Ross Eye Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan E Bard
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Julien Kann
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Donald Yergeau
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Darshan Sapkota
- Department of Ophthalmology/Ross Eye Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Yichen Ge
- Department of Ophthalmology/Ross Eye Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Zihua Hu
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Xiuqian Mu
- Department of Ophthalmology/Ross Eye Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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13
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Hereditary Optic Neuropathies: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based 2D/3D Approaches. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12010112. [PMID: 33477675 PMCID: PMC7831942 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited optic neuropathies share visual impairment due to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) as the hallmark of the disease. This group of genetic disorders are caused by mutations in nuclear genes or in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). An impaired mitochondrial function is the underlying mechanism of these diseases. Currently, optic neuropathies lack an effective treatment, and the implementation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology would entail a huge step forward. The generation of iPSC-derived RGCs would allow faithfully modeling these disorders, and these RGCs would represent an appealing platform for drug screening as well, paving the way for a proper therapy. Here, we review the ongoing two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) approaches based on iPSCs and their applications, taking into account the more innovative technologies, which include tissue engineering or microfluidics.
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14
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Covello G, Rossello FJ, Filosi M, Gajardo F, Duchemin A, Tremonti BF, Eichenlaub M, Polo JM, Powell D, Ngai J, Allende ML, Domenici E, Ramialison M, Poggi L. Transcriptome analysis of the zebrafish atoh7-/- Mutant, lakritz, highlights Atoh7-dependent genetic networks with potential implications for human eye diseases. FASEB Bioadv 2020; 2:434-448. [PMID: 32676583 PMCID: PMC7354691 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2020-00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of the bHLH transcription protein Atoh7 is a crucial factor conferring competence to retinal progenitor cells for the development of retinal ganglion cells. Several studies have emerged establishing ATOH7 as a retinal disease gene. Remarkably, such studies uncovered ATOH7 variants associated with global eye defects including optic nerve hypoplasia, microphthalmia, retinal vascular disorders, and glaucoma. The complex genetic networks and cellular decisions arising downstream of atoh7 expression, and how their dysregulation cause development of such disease traits remains unknown. To begin to understand such Atoh7-dependent events in vivo, we performed transcriptome analysis of wild-type and atoh7 mutant (lakritz) zebrafish embryos at the onset of retinal ganglion cell differentiation. We investigated in silico interplays of atoh7 and other disease-related genes and pathways. By network reconstruction analysis of differentially expressed genes, we identified gene clusters enriched in retinal development, cell cycle, chromatin remodeling, stress response, and Wnt pathways. By weighted gene coexpression network, we identified coexpression modules affected by the mutation and enriched in retina development genes tightly connected to atoh7. We established the groundwork whereby Atoh7-linked cellular and molecular processes can be investigated in the dynamic multi-tissue environment of the developing normal and diseased vertebrate eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Covello
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology ‐ CIBIOUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly
- Present address:
Department of BiologyUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - Fernando J. Rossello
- Australian Regenerative Medicine InstituteMonash University Clayton VICClaytonAustralia
- Present address:
University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer ResearchUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Michele Filosi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology ‐ CIBIOUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Felipe Gajardo
- Center for Genome RegulationFacultad de Ciencias, SantiagoUniversidad de ChileSantiagoChile
| | | | - Beatrice F. Tremonti
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology ‐ CIBIOUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Michael Eichenlaub
- Australian Regenerative Medicine InstituteMonash University Clayton VICClaytonAustralia
| | - Jose M. Polo
- Australian Regenerative Medicine InstituteMonash University Clayton VICClaytonAustralia
- BDIMonash University Clayton VICClaytonAustralia
| | - David Powell
- Monash Bioinformatics PlatformMonash University Clayton VICClaytonAustralia
| | - John Ngai
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology & Helen Wills Neuroscience InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Miguel L. Allende
- Center for Genome RegulationFacultad de Ciencias, SantiagoUniversidad de ChileSantiagoChile
| | - Enrico Domenici
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology ‐ CIBIOUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly
- Fondazione The Microsoft Research ‐ University of Trento Centre for Computational and Systems BiologyTrentoItaly
| | - Mirana Ramialison
- Australian Regenerative Medicine InstituteMonash University Clayton VICClaytonAustralia
| | - Lucia Poggi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology ‐ CIBIOUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly
- Centre for Organismal StudyHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
- Department of PhysiologyDevelopment and NeuroscienceUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
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15
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Hua ZQ, Liu H, Wang N, Jin ZB. Towards stem cell-based neuronal regeneration for glaucoma. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2020; 257:99-118. [PMID: 32988476 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease as a leading cause of global blindness. Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) apoptosis and optic nerve damage are the main pathological changes. Patients have elevated intraocular pressure and progressive visual field loss. Unfortunately, current treatments for glaucoma merely stay at delaying the disease progression. As a promising treatment, stem cell-based neuronal regeneration therapy holds potential for glaucoma, thereby great efforts have been paid on it. RGC regeneration and transplantation are key approaches for the future treatment of glaucoma. A line of studies have shown that a variety of cells can be used to regenerate RGCs, including embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and retinal progenitor cells (RPCs). In this review, we overview the current progress on the regeneration of pluripotent stem cell-derived RGCs and outlook the perspective and challenges in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Qi Hua
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ningli Wang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China.
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16
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Ahmad I, Teotia P, Erickson H, Xia X. Recapitulating developmental mechanisms for retinal regeneration. Prog Retin Eye Res 2019; 76:100824. [PMID: 31843569 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2019.100824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Degeneration of specific retinal neurons in diseases like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Currently, there is no therapy to modify the disease-associated degenerative changes. With the advancement in our knowledge about the mechanisms that regulate the development of the vertebrate retina, the approach to treat blinding diseases through regenerative medicine appears a near possibility. Recapitulation of developmental mechanisms is critical for reproducibly generating cells in either 2D or 3D culture of pluripotent stem cells for retinal repair and disease modeling. It is the key for unlocking the neurogenic potential of Müller glia in the adult retina for therapeutic regeneration. Here, we examine the current status and potential of the regenerative medicine approach for the retina in the backdrop of developmental mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iqbal Ahmad
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
| | - Pooja Teotia
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Helen Erickson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Xiaohuan Xia
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China
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17
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Chang KC, Sun C, Cameron EG, Madaan A, Wu S, Xia X, Zhang X, Tenerelli K, Nahmou M, Knasel CM, Russano KR, Hertz J, Goldberg JL. Opposing Effects of Growth and Differentiation Factors in Cell-Fate Specification. Curr Biol 2019; 29:1963-1975.e5. [PMID: 31155355 PMCID: PMC6581615 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Following ocular trauma or in diseases such as glaucoma, irreversible vision loss is due to the death of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neurons. Although strategies to replace these lost cells include stem cell replacement therapy, few differentiated stem cells turn into RGC-like neurons. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of RGC differentiation in vivo may improve outcomes of cell transplantation by directing the fate of undifferentiated cells toward mature RGCs. Here, we report a new mechanism by which growth and differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a ligand in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily, strongly promotes RGC differentiation in the developing retina in vivo in rodent retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) and in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). This effect is in direct contrast to the closely related ligand GDF-11, which suppresses RGC-fate specification. We find these opposing effects are due in part to GDF-15's ability to specifically suppress Smad-2, but not Smad-1, signaling induced by GDF-11, which can be recapitulated by pharmacologic or genetic blockade of Smad-2 in vivo to increase RGC specification. No other retinal cell types were affected by GDF-11 knockout, but a slight reduction in photoreceptor cells was observed by GDF-15 knockout in the developing retina in vivo. These data define a novel regulatory mechanism of GDFs' opposing effects and their relevance in RGC differentiation and suggest a potential approach for advancing ESC-to-RGC cell-based replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-Che Chang
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
| | - Catalina Sun
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Evan G Cameron
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Ankush Madaan
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Suqian Wu
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Eye, Ear, Nose, & Throat Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Fudan University, 200031 Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Xia
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Xiong Zhang
- Shiley Eye Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kevin Tenerelli
- Shiley Eye Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michael Nahmou
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Cara M Knasel
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Kristina R Russano
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Shiley Eye Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jonathan Hertz
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Goldberg
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Shiley Eye Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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18
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Lee J, Choi SH, Kim YB, Jun I, Sung JJ, Lee DR, Kim YI, Cho MS, Byeon SH, Kim DS, Kim DW. Defined Conditions for Differentiation of Functional Retinal Ganglion Cells From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 59:3531-3542. [PMID: 30025074 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-23439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose We aimed to establish an efficient method for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) using defined factors. Methods To define the contribution of specific signal pathways to RGC development and optimize the differentiation of hPSCs toward RGCs, we examined RGC differentiation in three stages: (1) eye field progenitors expressing the eye field transcription factors (EFTFs), (2) RGC progenitors expressing MATH5, and (3) RGCs expressing BRN3B and ISLET1. By monitoring the condition that elicited the highest yield of cells expressing stage-specific markers, we determined the optimal concentrations and combinations of signaling pathways required for efficient generation of RGCs from hPSCs. Results Precise modulation of signaling pathways, including Wnt, insulin growth factor-1, and fibroblast growth factor, in combination with mechanical isolation of neural rosette cell clusters significantly enriched RX and PAX6 double-positive eye field progenitors from hPSCs by day 12. Furthermore, Notch signal inhibition facilitated differentiation into MATH5-positive progenitors at 90% efficiency by day 20, and these cells further differentiated to BRN3B and ISLET1 double-positive RGCs at 45% efficiency by day 40. RGCs differentiated via this method were functional as exemplified by their ability to generate action potentials, express microfilament components on neuronal processes, and exhibit axonal transportation of mitochondria. Conclusions This protocol offers highly defined culture conditions for RGC differentiation from hPSCs and in vitro disease model and cell source for transplantation for diseases related to RGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwon Lee
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang-Hwi Choi
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young-Beom Kim
- Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ikhyun Jun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jin Jea Sung
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dongjin R Lee
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yang In Kim
- Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Suk Ho Byeon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dae-Sung Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong-Wook Kim
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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19
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Pluripotent Stem Cells as Models of Retina Development. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:6056-6070. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1504-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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20
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Ji SL, Tang SB. Differentiation of retinal ganglion cells from induced pluripotent stem cells: a review. Int J Ophthalmol 2019; 12:152-160. [PMID: 30662854 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2019.01.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a common optic neuropathy that is characterized by the progressive degeneration of axons and the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. Current glaucoma treatments only slow the progression of RGCs loss. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are capable of differentiating into all three germ layer cell lineages. iPSCs can be patient-specific, making iPSC-derived RGCs a promising candidate for cell replacement. In this review, we focus on discussing the detailed approaches used to differentiate iPSCs into RGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Li Ji
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha 410015, Hunan Province, China
| | - Shi-Bo Tang
- Aier School of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha 410015, Hunan Province, China
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21
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Miltner AM, Torre AL. Retinal Ganglion Cell Replacement: Current Status and Challenges Ahead. Dev Dyn 2019; 248:118-128. [PMID: 30242792 PMCID: PMC7141838 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurons of the retina can be affected by a wide variety of inherited or environmental degenerations that can lead to vision loss and even blindness. Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration is the hallmark of glaucoma and other optic neuropathies that affect millions of people worldwide. Numerous strategies are being trialed to replace lost neurons in different degeneration models, and in recent years, stem cell technologies have opened promising avenues to obtain donor cells for retinal repair. Stem cell-based transplantation has been most frequently used for the replacement of rod photoreceptors, but the same tools could potentially be used for other retinal cell types, including RGCs. However, RGCs are not abundant in stem cell-derived cultures, and in contrast to the short-distance wiring of photoreceptors, RGC axons take a long and intricate journey to connect with numerous brain nuclei. Hence, a number of challenges still remain, such as the ability to scale up the production of RGCs and a reliable and functional integration into the adult diseased retina upon transplantation. In this review, we discuss the recent advancements in the development of replacement therapies for RGC degenerations and the challenges that we need to overcome before these technologies can be applied to the clinic. Developmental Dynamics 248:118-128, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam M. Miltner
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California Davis, U.S
| | - Anna La Torre
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California Davis, U.S
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22
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Li L, Chen LP, Liu QH. Effect of the Notch signaling pathway on retinal ganglion cells and its neuroprotection in rats with acute ocular hypertension. Int J Ophthalmol 2018; 11:208-215. [PMID: 29487808 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2018.02.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To explore the effect of the Notch signaling pathway on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and optic nerve in rats with acute ocular hypertension (OH). METHODS Totally 48 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were included, among which 36 rats were selected to establish acute OH models. OH rats received a single intravitreal injection of 2 µL phosphate buffered solution (PBS) and another group of OH rats received a single intravitreal injection of 10 µmol/L γ-secretase inhibitor (DAPT). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot assay were adopted to determine the mRNA level of Notch and the protein levels of Notch, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43). The RGC apoptosis conditions were assessed by TUNEL staining. RESULTS The OH rats and PBS-injected rats had increased expression levels of Notch1, Bax, caspase-3, and GAP-43, decreased expression levels of Bcl-2, and increased RGC apoptosis, with severer macular edema and RGCs more loosely aligned, when compared with the normal rats. The DAPT-treated rats displayed increased expression levels of Notch1, Bax, caspase-3, and GAP-43, decreased expression levels of Bcl-2, and increased RGC apoptosis, in comparison with the OH rats and PBS-injected rats. RGCs were hardly observed and macular edema became severe in the DAPT-treated rat. CONCLUSION The Notch signaling pathway may suppress the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells and enhances the regeneration of the damaged optic nerves in rats with acute OH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570102, Hainan Province, China
| | - Li-Ping Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570102, Hainan Province, China
| | - Qing-Huai Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
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23
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Venkatesh K, Reddy LVK, Abbas S, Mullick M, Moghal ETB, Balakrishna JP, Sen D. NOTCH Signaling Is Essential for Maturation, Self-Renewal, and Tri-Differentiation of In Vitro Derived Human Neural Stem Cells. Cell Reprogram 2017; 19:372-383. [DOI: 10.1089/cell.2017.0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Katari Venkatesh
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular and Molecular Theranostics, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University, Vellore, India
| | - L. Vinod Kumar Reddy
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular and Molecular Theranostics, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University, Vellore, India
| | - Salar Abbas
- Centre for Stem Cell Research, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Madhubanti Mullick
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular and Molecular Theranostics, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University, Vellore, India
| | - Erfath Thanjeem Begum Moghal
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular and Molecular Theranostics, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University, Vellore, India
| | | | - Dwaipayan Sen
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular and Molecular Theranostics, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University, Vellore, India
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24
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Sluch VM, Chamling X, Liu MM, Berlinicke CA, Cheng J, Mitchell KL, Welsbie DS, Zack DJ. Enhanced Stem Cell Differentiation and Immunopurification of Genome Engineered Human Retinal Ganglion Cells. Stem Cells Transl Med 2017; 6:1972-1986. [PMID: 29024560 PMCID: PMC6430043 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.17-0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells have the potential to promote biological studies and accelerate drug discovery efforts by making possible direct experimentation on a variety of human cell types of interest. However, stem cell cultures are generally heterogeneous and efficient differentiation and purification protocols are often lacking. Here, we describe the generation of clustered regularly‐interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)‐Cas9 engineered reporter knock‐in embryonic stem cell lines in which tdTomato and a unique cell‐surface protein, THY1.2, are expressed under the control of the retinal ganglion cell (RGC)‐enriched gene BRN3B. Using these reporter cell lines, we greatly improved adherent stem cell differentiation to the RGC lineage by optimizing a novel combination of small molecules and established an anti‐THY1.2‐based protocol that allows for large‐scale RGC immunopurification. RNA‐sequencing confirmed the similarity of the stem cell‐derived RGCs to their endogenous human counterparts. Additionally, we developed an in vitro axonal injury model suitable for studying signaling pathways and mechanisms of human RGC cell death and for high‐throughput screening for neuroprotective compounds. Using this system in combination with RNAi‐based knockdown, we show that knockdown of dual leucine kinase (DLK) promotes survival of human RGCs, expanding to the human system prior reports that DLK inhibition is neuroprotective for murine RGCs. These improvements will facilitate the development and use of large‐scale experimental paradigms that require numbers of pure RGCs that were not previously obtainable. Stem Cells Translational Medicine2017;6:1972–1986
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin M Sluch
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Xitiz Chamling
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Melissa M Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Cynthia A Berlinicke
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jie Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Katherine L Mitchell
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Derek S Welsbie
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Donald J Zack
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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25
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Riesenberg AN, Conley KW, Le TT, Brown NL. Separate and coincident expression of Hes1 and Hes5 in the developing mouse eye. Dev Dyn 2017; 247:212-221. [PMID: 28675662 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Notch signaling is broadly required during embryogenesis, frequently activating the transcription of two basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, Hes1 and Hes5. But, it remains unresolved when and where Hes1 and Hes5 act alone or together during development. Here, we analyzed a Hes5-green fluorescent protein (GFP) bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mouse, as a proxy for endogenous Hes5. We directly compared transgenic GFP expression with Hes1, and particular markers of embryonic lens and retina development. RESULTS Hes5-GFP is dynamic within subsets of retinal and lens progenitor cells, and differentiating retinal ganglion neurons, in contrast to Hes1 found in all progenitor cells. In the adult retina, only Müller glia express Hes5-GFP. Finally, Hes5-GFP is up-regulated in Hes1 germline mutants, consistent with previous demonstration that Hes1 suppresses Hes5 transcription. CONCLUSIONS Hes5-GFP BAC transgenic mice are useful for identifying Hes5-expressing cells. Although Hes5-GFP and Hes1 are coexpressed in particular developmental contexts, we also noted cohorts of lens or retinal cells expressing just one factor. The dynamic Hes5-GFP expression pattern, coupled with its derepressed expression in Hes1 mutants, suggests that this transgene contains the relevant cis-regulatory elements that regulate endogenous Hes5 in the mouse lens and retina. Developmental Dynamics 247:212-221, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy N Riesenberg
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kevin W Conley
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Tien T Le
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Nadean L Brown
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California Davis, Davis, California
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Chao JR, Lamba DA, Klesert TR, Torre AL, Hoshino A, Taylor RJ, Jayabalu A, Engel AL, Khuu TH, Wang RK, Neitz M, Neitz J, Reh TA. Transplantation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Cells into the Subretinal Space of a Non-Human Primate. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2017; 6:4. [PMID: 28516002 PMCID: PMC5433804 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.6.3.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Previous studies have demonstrated the ability of retinal cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to survive, integrate into the host retina, and mediate light responses in murine mouse models. Our aim is to determine whether these cells can also survive and integrate into the retina of a nonhuman primate, Saimiri sciureus, following transplantation into the subretinal space. METHODS hESCs were differentiated toward retinal neuronal fates using our previously published technique and cultured for 60 to 70 days. Differentiated cells were further treated with 20 μM N-[N-(3,5-Difluorophenacetyl)-L-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT) for a period of 5 days immediately prior to subretinal transplantation. Differentiated cells were labeled with a lentivirus expressing GFP. One million cells (10,000 cells/μL) were injected into the submacular space into a squirrel monkey eye, using an ab externo technique. RESULTS RetCam imaging demonstrated the presence and survival of human donor cells 3 months after transplantation in the S. sciureus eye. Injected cells consolidated in the temporal macula. GFP+ axonal projections were observed to emanate from the central consolidation of cells at 1 month, with some projecting into the optic nerve by 3 months after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS Human ES cell-derived retinal neurons injected into the submacular space of a squirrel monkey survive at least 3 months postinjection without immunosuppression. Some donor cells appeared to integrate into the host inner retina, and numerous donor axonal projections were noted throughout, with some projecting into the optic nerve. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE These data illustrate the feasibility of hESC-derived retinal cell replacement in the nonhuman primate eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Chao
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Deepak A Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - Todd R Klesert
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Vitreoretinal Associates of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anna La Torre
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Akina Hoshino
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Russell J Taylor
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anu Jayabalu
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Universal Cells, Inc., Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Abbi L Engel
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Thomas H Khuu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ruikang K Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Maureen Neitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jay Neitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Kuwajima T, Soares CA, Sitko AA, Lefebvre V, Mason C. SoxC Transcription Factors Promote Contralateral Retinal Ganglion Cell Differentiation and Axon Guidance in the Mouse Visual System. Neuron 2017; 93:1110-1125.e5. [PMID: 28215559 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors control cell identity by regulating diverse developmental steps such as differentiation and axon guidance. The mammalian binocular visual circuit is comprised of projections of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) to ipsilateral and contralateral targets in the brain. A transcriptional code for ipsilateral RGC identity has been identified, but less is known about the transcriptional regulation of contralateral RGC development. Here we demonstrate that SoxC genes (Sox4, 11, and 12) act on the progenitor-to-postmitotic transition to implement contralateral, but not ipsilateral, RGC differentiation, by binding to Hes5 and thus repressing Notch signaling. When SoxC genes are deleted in postmitotic RGCs, contralateral RGC axons grow poorly on chiasm cells in vitro and project ipsilaterally at the chiasm midline in vivo, and Plexin-A1 and Nr-CAM expression in RGCs is downregulated. These data implicate SoxC transcription factors in the regulation of contralateral RGC differentiation and axon guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaaki Kuwajima
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Célia A Soares
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Austen A Sitko
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Véronique Lefebvre
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Orthopaedic and Rheumatologic Research Center, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Carol Mason
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Neuroscience, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Iida H, Ishii Y, Kondoh H. Intrinsic lens potential of neural retina inhibited by Notch signaling as the cause of lens transdifferentiation. Dev Biol 2016; 421:118-125. [PMID: 27845051 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Embryonic neural retinas of avians produce lenses under spreading culture conditions. This phenomenon has been regarded as a paradigm of transdifferentiation due to the overt change in cell type. Here we elucidated the underlying mechanisms. Retina-to-lens transdifferentiation occurs in spreading cultures, suggesting that it is triggered by altered cell-cell interactions. Thus, we tested the involvement of Notch signaling based on its role in retinal neurogenesis. Starting from E8 retina, a small number of crystallin-expressing lens cells began to develop after 20 days in control spreading cultures. By contrast, addition of Notch signal inhibitors to cultures after day 2 strongly promoted lens development beginning at day 11, and a 10-fold increase in δ-crystallin expression level. After Notch signal inhibition, transcription factor genes that regulate the early stage of eye development, Prox1 and Pitx3, were sequentially activated. These observations indicate that the lens differentiation potential is intrinsic to the neural retina, and this potential is repressed by Notch signaling during normal embryogenesis. Therefore, Notch suppression leads to lens transdifferentiation by disinhibiting the neural retina-intrinsic program of lens development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideaki Iida
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8555, Japan
| | - Yasuo Ishii
- Faculty of Biosciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8555, Japan
| | - Hisato Kondoh
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8555, Japan; Faculty of Biosciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8555, Japan.
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29
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Teotia P, Chopra DA, Dravid SM, Van Hook MJ, Qiu F, Morrison J, Rizzino A, Ahmad I. Generation of Functional Human Retinal Ganglion Cells with Target Specificity from Pluripotent Stem Cells by Chemically Defined Recapitulation of Developmental Mechanism. Stem Cells 2016; 35:572-585. [PMID: 27709736 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a complex group of diseases wherein a selective degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) lead to irreversible loss of vision. A comprehensive approach to glaucomatous RGC degeneration may include stem cells to functionally replace dead neurons through transplantation and understand RGCs vulnerability using a disease in a dish stem cell model. Both approaches require the directed generation of stable, functional, and target-specific RGCs from renewable sources of cells, that is, the embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Here, we demonstrate a rapid and safe, stage-specific, chemically defined protocol that selectively generates RGCs across species, including human, by recapitulating the developmental mechanism. The de novo generated RGCs from pluripotent cells are similar to native RGCs at the molecular, biochemical, functional levels. They also express axon guidance molecules, and discriminate between specific and nonspecific targets, and are nontumorigenic. Stem Cells 2017;35:572-585.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Teotia
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Divyan A Chopra
- Department of Pharmacology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | | | - Matthew J Van Hook
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Fang Qiu
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - John Morrison
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Angie Rizzino
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Iqbal Ahmad
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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Cai S, Han L, Ao Q, Chan Y, Shum DK. Human Induced Pluripotent Cell-Derived Sensory Neurons for Fate Commitment of Bone Marrow-Derived Schwann Cells: Implications for Remyelination Therapy. Stem Cells Transl Med 2016; 6:369-381. [PMID: 28191772 PMCID: PMC5442799 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2015-0424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Strategies that exploit induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to derive neurons have relied on cocktails of cytokines and growth factors to bias cell‐signaling events in the course of fate choice. These are often costly and inefficient, involving multiple steps. In this study, we took an alternative approach and selected 5 small‐molecule inhibitors of key signaling pathways in an 8‐day program to induce differentiation of human iPSCs into sensory neurons, reaching ≥80% yield in terms of marker proteins. Continuing culture in maintenance medium resulted in neuronal networks immunopositive for synaptic vesicle markers and vesicular glutamate transporters suggestive of excitatory neurotransmission. Subpopulations of the derived neurons were electrically excitable, showing tetrodotoxin‐sensitive action potentials in patch‐clamp experiments. Coculture of the derived neurons with rat Schwann cells under myelinating conditions resulted in upregulated levels of neuronal neuregulin 1 type III in conjunction with the phosphorylated receptors ErbB2 and ErbB3, consistent with amenability of the neuritic network to myelination. As surrogates of embryonic dorsal root ganglia neurons, the derived sensory neurons provided contact‐dependent cues to commit bone marrow‐derived Schwann cell‐like cells to the Schwann cell fate. Our rapid and efficient induction protocol promises not only controlled differentiation of human iPSCs into sensory neurons, but also utility in the translation to a protocol whereby human bone marrow‐derived Schwann cells become available for autologous transplantation and remyelination therapy. Stem Cells Translational Medicine2017;6:369–381
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Affiliation(s)
- Sa Cai
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone, and Healthy Aging, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Han
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone, and Healthy Aging, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Ao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yuquan Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying‐Shing Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone, and Healthy Aging, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Daisy Kwok‐Yan Shum
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone, and Healthy Aging, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
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Riesenberg AN, Brown NL. Cell autonomous and nonautonomous requirements for Delltalike1 during early mouse retinal neurogenesis. Dev Dyn 2016; 245:631-40. [PMID: 26947267 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the vertebrate retina, six neuronal and one glial cell class are produced from a common progenitor pool. During neurogenesis, adjacent retinal cells use Notch signaling to maintain a pool of progenitors by blocking particular cells from differentiating prematurely. In mice there are multiple Notch pathway ligands and receptors, but the role(s) of each paralogue during retinal histogenesis remains only partially defined. RESULTS Here we analyzed the cell autonomous and nonautonomous requirements for the Deltalike1(Dll1) ligand during prenatal retinogenesis. We used the α-Cre driver to simultaneously delete a Dll1 conditional allele and activate the Z/EG reporter, then quantified Dll1 mutant phenotypes within and outside of this α-Cre GFP-marked lineage. We found that Dll1 activity is required for Hes1 expression, both autonomously and nonautonomously, but were surprised that retinal ganglion cell differentiation is only blocked cell autonomously. Moreover, Dll1 does not act during cone photoreceptor neurogenesis. Finally, Dll1 mutant adult retinas contained small retinal rosettes and RGC patterning defects but were otherwise normal. CONCLUSIONS Although Dll1 participates in bidirectional (cis + trans) Notch signaling to regulate Hes1 expression, it only acts cell autonomously (in cis) to interpret inhibitory signals from other cells that block RGC neurogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 245:631-640, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy N Riesenberg
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Nadean L Brown
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, University of California Davis, Davis, California
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Abstract
Photoreceptors--the light-sensitive cells in the vertebrate retina--have been extremely well-characterized with regards to their biochemistry, cell biology and physiology. They therefore provide an excellent model for exploring the factors and mechanisms that drive neural progenitors into a differentiated cell fate in the nervous system. As a result, great progress in understanding the transcriptional network that controls photoreceptor specification and differentiation has been made over the last 20 years. This progress has also enabled the production of photoreceptors from pluripotent stem cells, thereby aiding the development of regenerative medical approaches to eye disease. In this Review, we outline the signaling and transcription factors that drive vertebrate photoreceptor development and discuss how these function together in gene regulatory networks to control photoreceptor cell fate specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Brzezinski
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Thomas A Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Chen J, Riazifar H, Guan MX, Huang T. Modeling autosomal dominant optic atrophy using induced pluripotent stem cells and identifying potential therapeutic targets. Stem Cell Res Ther 2016; 7:2. [PMID: 26738566 PMCID: PMC4704249 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-015-0264-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Revised: 11/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many retinal degenerative diseases are caused by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Autosomal dominant optic atrophy is the most common hereditary optic atrophy disease and is characterized by central vision loss and degeneration of RGCs. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this group of diseases. However, stem cell therapy holds great potential for replacing lost RGCs of patients. Compared with embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be derived from adult somatic cells, and they are associated with fewer ethical concerns and are less prone to immune rejection. In addition, patient-derived iPSCs may provide us with a cellular model for studying the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic agents for optic atrophy. Methods In this study, iPSCs were obtained from patients carrying an OPA1 mutation (OPA1+/−-iPSC) that were diagnosed with optic atrophy. These iPSCs were differentiated into putative RGCs, which were subsequently characterized by using RGC-specific expression markers BRN3a and ISLET-1. Results Mutant OPA1+/−-iPSCs exhibited significantly more apoptosis and were unable to efficiently differentiate into RGCs. However, with the addition of neural induction medium, Noggin, or estrogen, OPA1+/−-iPSC differentiation into RGCs was promoted. Conclusions Our results suggest that apoptosis mediated by OPA1 mutations plays an important role in the pathogenesis of optic atrophy, and both noggin and β-estrogen may represent potential therapeutic agents for OPA1-related optic atrophy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-015-0264-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
| | - Hamidreza Riazifar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Human Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Min-Xin Guan
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
| | - Taosheng Huang
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
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Abstract
Photoreceptors have been the most intensively studied retinal cell type. Early lineage studies showed that photoreceptors are produced by retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) that produce only photoreceptor cells and by RPCs that produce both photoreceptor cells and other retinal cell types. More recent lineage studies have shown that there are intrinsic, molecular differences among these RPCs and that these molecular differences operate in gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that lead to the choice of the rod versus the cone fate. In addition, there are GRNs that lead to the choice of a photoreceptor fate and that of another retinal cell type. An example of such a GRN is one that drives the binary fate choice between a rod photoreceptor and bipolar cell. This GRN has many elements, including both feedforward and feedback regulatory loops, highlighting the complexity of such networks. This and other examples of retinal cell fate determination are reviewed here, focusing on the events that direct the choice of rod and cone photoreceptor fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance L Cepko
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115;
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35
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Riazifar H, Jia Y, Chen J, Lynch G, Huang T. Chemically induced specification of retinal ganglion cells from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cells Transl Med 2014; 3:424-32. [PMID: 24493857 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2013-0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is the primary pathological change for many retinal degenerative diseases. Although there is currently no effective treatment for this group of diseases, cell transplantation to replace lost RGCs holds great potential. However, for the development of cell replacement therapy, better understanding of the molecular details involved in differentiating stem cells into RGCs is essential. In this study, a novel, stepwise chemical protocol is described for the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells into functional RGCs. Briefly, stem cells were differentiated into neural rosettes, which were then cultured with the Notch inhibitor N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-l-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT). The expression of neural and RGC markers (BRN3A, BRN3B, ATOH7/Math5, γ-synuclein, Islet-1, and THY-1) was examined. Approximately 30% of the cell population obtained expressed the neuronal marker TUJ1 as well the RGC markers. Moreover, the differentiated RGCs generated action potentials and exhibited both spontaneous and evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents, indicating that functional and mature RGCs were generated. In combination, these data demonstrate that a single chemical (DAPT) can induce PAX6/RX-positive stem cells to undergo differentiation into functional RGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Riazifar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, MitoMed Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, and Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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El Yakoubi W, Borday C, Hamdache J, Parain K, Tran HT, Vleminckx K, Perron M, Locker M. Hes4 controls proliferative properties of neural stem cells during retinal ontogenesis. Stem Cells 2013; 30:2784-95. [PMID: 22969013 PMCID: PMC3549485 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2012] [Accepted: 08/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The retina of fish and amphibian contains genuine neural stem cells located at the most peripheral edge of the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ). However, their cell-of-origin as well as the mechanisms that sustain their maintenance during development are presently unknown. We identified Hes4 (previously named XHairy2), a gene encoding a bHLH-O transcriptional repressor, as a stem cell-specific marker of the Xenopus CMZ that is positively regulated by the canonical Wnt pathway and negatively by Hedgehog signaling. We found that during retinogenesis, Hes4 labels a small territory, located first at the pigmented epithelium (RPE)/neural retina (NR) border and later in the retinal margin, that likely gives rise to adult retinal stem cells. We next addressed whether Hes4 might impart this cell subpopulation with retinal stem cell features: inhibited RPE or NR differentiation programs, continuous proliferation, and slow cell cycle speed. We could indeed show that Hes4 overexpression cell autonomously prevents retinal precursor cells from commitment toward retinal fates and maintains them in a proliferative state. Besides, our data highlight for the first time that Hes4 may also constitute a crucial regulator of cell cycle kinetics. Hes4 gain of function indeed significantly slows down cell division, mainly through the lengthening of G1 phase. As a whole, we propose that Hes4 maintains particular stemness features in a cellular cohort dedicated to constitute the adult retinal stem cell pool, by keeping it in an undifferentiated and slowly proliferative state along embryonic retinogenesis. Stem Cells 2012;30:2784–2795
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Mizeracka K, Trimarchi JM, Stadler MB, Cepko CL. Analysis of gene expression in wild-type and Notch1 mutant retinal cells by single cell profiling. Dev Dyn 2013; 242:1147-59. [PMID: 23813500 PMCID: PMC3882027 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Revised: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vertebrate retina comprises sensory neurons, the photoreceptors, as well as many other types of neurons and one type of glial cell. These cells are generated by multipotent and restricted retinal progenitor cells (RPCs), which express Notch1. Loss of Notch1 in RPCs late during retinal development results in the overproduction of rod photoreceptors at the expense of interneurons and glia. RESULTS To examine the molecular underpinnings of this observation, microarray analysis of single retinal cells from wild-type or Notch1 conditional knockout retinas was performed. In situ hybridization was carried out to validate some of the findings. CONCLUSIONS The majority of Notch1-mutant cells lost expression of known Notch target genes. These cells also had low levels of RPC and cell cycle genes, and robustly up-regulated rod precursor genes. In addition, single wild-type cells, in which cell cycle marker genes were down-regulated, expressed markers of both rod photoreceptors and interneurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Mizeracka
- Department of Genetics, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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38
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Song WT, Zhang XY, Xia XB. Atoh7 promotes the differentiation of retinal stem cells derived from Müller cells into retinal ganglion cells by inhibiting Notch signaling. Stem Cell Res Ther 2013; 4:94. [PMID: 23945288 PMCID: PMC3854761 DOI: 10.1186/scrt305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Accepted: 08/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Retinal Müller cells exhibit the characteristics of retinal progenitor cells, and differentiate into ganglion cells under certain conditions. However, the number of ganglion cells differentiated from retinal Müller cells falls far short of therapeutic needs. This study aimed to develop a novel protocol to promote the differentiation of retinal Müller cells into ganglion cells and explore the underlying signaling mechanisms. Methods Müller cells were isolated and purified from rat retina and induced to dedifferentiate into retinal stem cells. Next the stem cells were transfected with lentivirus PGC-FU-GFP or lentivirus PGC-FU-Atoh7-GFP. In addition, the stem cells were transfected with Brn-3b siRNA or Isl-1 siRNA or treated with Notch inhibitor gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI). Results The proportion of ganglion cells differentiated from Atoh7-tranfected stem cells was significantly higher than that of controls. Knockdown of Brn-3b or Isl-1 inhibited, while GSI promoted, the differentiation into retinal ganglion cells. Atoh7 promoted the expression of Brn-3b and Isl-1 but inhibited the expression of Notch1. Conclusions Atoh7 promotes the differentiation of Müller cells-derived retinal stem cells into retinal ganglion cells by inhibiting Notch signaling, thus opening up a new avenue for gene therapy and optic nerve regeneration in glaucoma.
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Chiodini F, Matter-Sadzinski L, Rodrigues T, Skowronska-Krawczyk D, Brodier L, Schaad O, Bauer C, Ballivet M, Matter JM. A positive feedback loop between ATOH7 and a Notch effector regulates cell-cycle progression and neurogenesis in the retina. Cell Rep 2013; 3:796-807. [PMID: 23434507 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2013.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2011] [Revised: 01/02/2013] [Accepted: 01/31/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The HES proteins are known Notch effectors and have long been recognized as important in inhibiting neuronal differentiation. However, the roles that they play in the specification of neuronal fate remain largely unknown. Here, we show that in the differentiating retinal epithelium, the proneural protein ATOH7 (ATH5) is required for the activation of the transcription of the Hes5.3 gene before the penultimate mitosis of progenitor cells. We further show that the HES5.3 protein slows down the cell-cycle progression of Atoh7-expressing cells, thereby establishing conditions for Atoh7 to reach a high level of expression in S phase and induce neuronal differentiation prior to the ultimate mitosis. Our study uncovers how a proneural protein recruits a protein known to be a component of the Notch signaling pathway in order to regulate the transition between an initial phase of selection among uncommitted progenitors and a later phase committing the selected progenitors to neuronal differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Chiodini
- Department of Biochemistry, Sciences II, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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Lee KS, Zhou W, Scott-McKean JJ, Emmerling KL, Cai GY, Krah DL, Costa AC, Freed CR, Levin MJ. Human sensory neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells support varicella-zoster virus infection. PLoS One 2012; 7:e53010. [PMID: 23285249 PMCID: PMC3532467 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 11/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
After primary infection, varicella-zoster virus (VZV) establishes latency in neurons of the dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia. Many questions concerning the mechanism of VZV pathogenesis remain unanswered, due in part to the strict host tropism and inconsistent availability of human tissue obtained from autopsies and abortions. The recent development of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells provides great potential for the study of many diseases. We previously generated human iPS cells from skin fibroblasts by introducing four reprogramming genes with non-integrating adenovirus. In this study, we developed a novel protocol to generate sensory neurons from iPS cells. Human iPS cells were exposed to small molecule inhibitors for 10 days, which efficiently converted pluripotent cells into neural progenitor cells (NPCs). The NPCs were then exposed for two weeks to growth factors required for their conversion to sensory neurons. The iPS cell-derived sensory neurons were characterized by immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and electrophysiology. After differentiation, approximately 80% of the total cell population expressed the neuron-specific protein, βIII-tubulin. Importantly, 15% of the total cell population co-expressed the markers Brn3a and peripherin, indicating that these cells are sensory neurons. These sensory neurons could be infected by both VZV and herpes simplex virus (HSV), a related alphaherpesvirus. Since limited neuronal populations are capable of supporting the entire VZV and HSV life cycles, our iPS-derived sensory neuron model may prove useful for studying alphaherpesvirus latency and reactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America.
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Nfonsam LE, Cano C, Mudge J, Schilkey FD, Curtiss J. Analysis of the transcriptomes downstream of Eyeless and the Hedgehog, Decapentaplegic and Notch signaling pathways in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS One 2012; 7:e44583. [PMID: 22952997 PMCID: PMC3432130 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2011] [Accepted: 08/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue-specific transcription factors are thought to cooperate with signaling pathways to promote patterned tissue specification, in part by co-regulating transcription. The Drosophila melanogaster Pax6 homolog Eyeless forms a complex, incompletely understood regulatory network with the Hedgehog, Decapentaplegic and Notch signaling pathways to control eye-specific gene expression. We report a combinatorial approach, including mRNAseq and microarray analyses, to identify targets co-regulated by Eyeless and Hedgehog, Decapentaplegic or Notch. Multiple analyses suggest that the transcriptomes resulting from co-misexpression of Eyeless+signaling factors provide a more complete picture of eye development compared to previous efforts involving Eyeless alone: (1) Principal components analysis and two-way hierarchical clustering revealed that the Eyeless+signaling factor transcriptomes are closer to the eye control transcriptome than when Eyeless is misexpressed alone; (2) more genes are upregulated at least three-fold in response to Eyeless+signaling factors compared to Eyeless alone; (3) based on gene ontology analysis, the genes upregulated in response to Eyeless+signaling factors had a greater diversity of functions compared to Eyeless alone. Through a secondary screen that utilized RNA interference, we show that the predicted gene CG4721 has a role in eye development. CG4721 encodes a neprilysin family metalloprotease that is highly up-regulated in response to Eyeless+Notch, confirming the validity of our approach. Given the similarity between D. melanogaster and vertebrate eye development, the large number of novel genes identified as potential targets of Ey+signaling factors will provide novel insights to our understanding of eye development in D. melanogaster and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Landry E. Nfonsam
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Carlos Cano
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Joann Mudge
- National Center for Genome Resources, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Faye D. Schilkey
- National Center for Genome Resources, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Curtiss
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
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Formosa-Jordan P, Ibañes M, Ares S, Frade JM. Regulation of neuronal differentiation at the neurogenic wavefront. Development 2012; 139:2321-9. [PMID: 22669822 DOI: 10.1242/dev.076406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Signaling mediated by the Delta/Notch system controls the process of lateral inhibition, known to regulate neurogenesis in metazoans. Lateral inhibition takes place in equivalence groups formed by cells having equal capacity to differentiate, and it results in the singling out of precursors, which subsequently become neurons. During normal development, areas of active neurogenesis spread through non-neurogenic regions in response to specific morphogens, giving rise to neurogenic wavefronts. Close contact of these wavefronts with non-neurogenic cells is expected to affect lateral inhibition. Therefore, a mechanism should exist in these regions to prevent disturbances of the lateral inhibitory process. Focusing on the developing chick retina, we show that Dll1 is widely expressed by non-neurogenic precursors located at the periphery of this tissue, a region lacking Notch1, lFng, and differentiation-related gene expression. We investigated the role of this Dll1 expression through mathematical modeling. Our analysis predicts that the absence of Dll1 ahead of the neurogenic wavefront results in reduced robustness of the lateral inhibition process, often linked to enhanced neurogenesis and the presence of morphological alterations of the wavefront itself. These predictions are consistent with previous observations in the retina of mice in which Dll1 is conditionally mutated. The predictive capacity of our mathematical model was confirmed further by mimicking published results on the perturbation of morphogenetic furrow progression in the eye imaginal disc of Drosophila. Altogether, we propose that Notch-independent Delta expression ahead of the neurogenic wavefront is required to avoid perturbations in lateral inhibition and wavefront progression, thus optimizing the neurogenic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pau Formosa-Jordan
- Department of Structure and Constituents of Matter, Faculty of Physics, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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43
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Laurent M, Maryvonne L, Le Dréau G, Gwenvaël LD, Guillonneau X, Xavier G, Lelièvre E, Cécile LE, Slembrouck A, Amélie S, Goureau O, Olivier G, Martinerie C, Cécile M, Marx M, Maria M. Temporal and spatial expression of CCN3 during retina development. Dev Neurobiol 2012; 72:1363-75. [PMID: 22038708 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2011] [Accepted: 10/20/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
NOV/CCN3 is one of the founding members of the CCN (Cyr61 CTGF NOV) family. In the avian retina, CCN3 expression is mostly located within the central region of the inner nuclear layer. As retinal development progresses and this retinal layer differentiates and matures, CCN3 expression forms a dorsal-ventral and a central-peripheral gradient. CCN3 is produced by two glial cell types, peripapillary cells and Müller cells, as well as by horizontal, amacrine, and bipolar interneurons. In retinal neurons and Müller cell cultures, CCN3 expression is induced by activated BMP signaling, whereas Notch signaling decreases CCN3 mRNA and protein levels in Müller cells and has no effect in retinal neurons. In Müller cells, the CCN3 expression detected may thus result from a balance between the Notch and BMP signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryvonne Laurent
- INSERM UMR S938 Centre de Recherche de Saint-Antoine, Hôpital Saint Antoine Paris F 75012, France.
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Singhal S, Bhatia B, Jayaram H, Becker S, Jones MF, Cottrill PB, Khaw PT, Salt TE, Limb GA. Human Müller glia with stem cell characteristics differentiate into retinal ganglion cell (RGC) precursors in vitro and partially restore RGC function in vivo following transplantation. Stem Cells Transl Med 2012; 1:188-99. [PMID: 23197778 PMCID: PMC3659849 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2011-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2011] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Müller glia with stem cell characteristics have been identified in the adult human eye, and although there is no evidence that they regenerate retina in vivo, they can be induced to grow and differentiate into retinal neurons in vitro. We differentiated human Müller stem cells into retinal ganglion cell (RGC) precursors by stimulation with fibroblast growth factor 2 together with NOTCH inhibition using the γ-secretase inhibitor N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-l-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT). Differentiation into RGC precursors was confirmed by gene and protein expression analysis, changes in cytosolic [Ca(2+)] in response to neurotransmitters, and green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression by cells transduced with a transcriptional BRN3b-GFP reporter vector. RGC precursors transplanted onto the inner retinal surface of Lister hooded rats depleted of RGCs by N-methyl-d-aspartate aligned onto the host RGC layer at the site of transplantation but did not extend long processes toward the optic nerve. Cells were observed extending processes into the RGC layer and expressing RGC markers in vivo. This migration was observed only when adjuvant anti-inflammatory and matrix degradation therapy was used for transplantation. RGC precursors induced a significant recovery of RGC function in the transplanted eyes as determined by improvement of the negative scotopic threshold response of the electroretinogram (indicative of RGC function). The results suggest that transplanted RGC precursors may be capable of establishing local interneuron synapses and possibly release neurotrophic factors that facilitate recovery of RGC function. These cells constitute a promising source of cells for cell-based therapies to treat retinal degenerative disease caused by RGC dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hari Jayaram
- Divisions of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics and
| | - Silke Becker
- Divisions of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics and
| | | | | | - Peng T. Khaw
- Divisions of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics and
| | - Thomas E. Salt
- Visual Neurosciences, NIHR BRC University College London Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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Georgi SA, Reh TA. Dicer is required for the maintenance of notch signaling and gliogenic competence during mouse retinal development. Dev Neurobiol 2011; 71:1153-69. [PMID: 21542136 PMCID: PMC5373852 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 19-25 nucleotide RNAs that regulate messenger RNA translation and stability. Recently, we performed a conditional knockout (CKO) of the miRNA-processing enzyme Dicer during mouse retinal development and showed an essential role for miRNAs in the transition of retinal progenitors from an early to a late competence state (Georgi and Reh [2010]: J Neurosci 30:4048-4061). Notably, Dicer CKO progenitors failed to express Ascl1 and generated ganglion cells beyond their normal competence window. Because Ascl1 regulates multiple Notch signaling components, we hypothesized that Notch signaling is downregulated in Dicer CKO retinas. We show here that Notch signaling is severely reduced in Dicer CKO retinas, but that retinal progenitors still retain a low level of Notch signaling. By increasing Notch signaling in Dicer CKO progenitors through constitutive expression of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD), we show that transgenic rescue of Notch signaling has little effect on the competence of retinal progenitors or the enhanced generation of ganglion cells, suggesting that loss of Notch signaling is not a major determinant of these phenotypes. Nevertheless, transgenic NICD expression restored horizontal cells, suggesting an interaction between miRNAs and Notch signaling in the development of this cell type. Furthermore, while NICD overexpression leads to robust glial induction in control retinas, NICD overexpression was insufficient to drive Dicer-null retinal progenitors to a glial fate. Surprisingly, the presence of transgenic NICD expression did not prevent the differentiation of some types of retinal neurons, suggesting that Notch inactivation is not an absolute requirement for the initial stages of neuronal differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean A Georgi
- Neurobiology and Behavior Program, Department of Biological Structure, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
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Vilas-Boas F, Fior R, Swedlow JR, Storey KG, Henrique D. A novel reporter of notch signalling indicates regulated and random Notch activation during vertebrate neurogenesis. BMC Biol 2011; 9:58. [PMID: 21880129 PMCID: PMC3201213 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7007-9-58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2011] [Accepted: 08/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Building the complex vertebrate nervous system involves the regulated production of neurons and glia while maintaining a progenitor cell population. Neurogenesis starts asynchronously in different regions of the embryo and occurs over a long period of time, allowing progenitor cells to be exposed to multiple extrinsic signals that regulate the production of different cell types. Notch-mediated cell-cell signalling is one of the mechanisms that maintain the progenitor pool, however, little is known about how the timing of Notch activation is related to the cell cycle and the distinct modes of cell division that generate neurons. An essential tool with which to investigate the role of Notch signalling on cell by cell basis is the development a faithful reporter of Notch activity. RESULTS Here we present a novel reporter for Notch activity based on the promoter of the well characterised Notch target chick Hes5-1, coupled with multiple elements that confer instability, including a destabilized nuclear Venus fluorescent protein and the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of Hes5-1. We demonstrate that this reporter faithfully recapitulates the endogenous expression of Hes5-1 and that it robustly responds to Notch activation in the chick neural tube. Analysis of the patterns of Notch activity revealed by this reporter indicates that although Notch is most frequently activated prior to mitosis it can be activated at any time within the cell cycle. Notch active progenitors undergoing mitosis generate two daughters that both continue to experience Notch signalling. However, cells lacking Notch activity before and during mitosis generate daughters with dissimilar Notch activity profiles. CONCLUSIONS A novel Notch reporter with multiple destabilisation elements provides a faithful read-out of endogenous Notch activity on a cell-by-cell basis, as neural progenitors progress through the cell cycle in the chick neural tube. Notch activity patterns in this cell population provide evidence for distinct Notch signalling dynamics underlying different cell division modes and for the involvement of random initiation of Notch signalling within the neuroepithelium. These findings highlight the importance of single-cell analysis in the study of the complexity of Notch activity and provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying cell fate decisions in neural progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Vilas-Boas
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular and Instituto de Histologia e Biologia do Desenvolvimento, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Av Prof, Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
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47
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Nelson BR, Ueki Y, Reardon S, Karl MO, Georgi S, Hartman BH, Lamba DA, Reh TA. Genome-wide analysis of Müller glial differentiation reveals a requirement for Notch signaling in postmitotic cells to maintain the glial fate. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22817. [PMID: 21829655 PMCID: PMC3149061 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2011] [Accepted: 06/29/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that Müller glia are closely related to retinal progenitors; these two cell types express many of the same genes and after damage to the retina, Müller glia can serve as a source for new neurons, particularly in non-mammalian vertebrates. We investigated the period of postnatal retinal development when progenitors are differentiating into Müller glia to better understand this transition. FACS purified retinal progenitors and Müller glia from various ages of Hes5-GFP mice were analyzed by Affymetrix cDNA microarrays. We found that genes known to be enriched/expressed by Müller glia steadily increase over the first three postnatal weeks, while genes associated with the mitotic cell cycle are rapidly downregulated from P0 to P7. Interestingly, progenitor genes not directly associated with the mitotic cell cycle, like the proneural genes Ascl1 and Neurog2, decline more slowly over the first 10–14 days of postnatal development, and there is a peak in Notch signaling several days after the presumptive Müller glia have been generated. To confirm that Notch signaling continues in the postmitotic Müller glia, we performed in situ hybridization, immunolocalization for the active form of Notch, and immunofluorescence for BrdU. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we found that sustained Notch signaling in the postmitotic Müller glia is necessary for their maturation and the stabilization of the glial identity for almost a week after the cells have exited the mitotic cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branden R. Nelson
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Yumi Ueki
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sara Reardon
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Mike O. Karl
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sean Georgi
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Byron H. Hartman
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Deepak A. Lamba
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Thomas A. Reh
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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48
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Lelièvre EC, Lek M, Boije H, Houille-Vernes L, Brajeul V, Slembrouck A, Roger JE, Sahel JA, Matter JM, Sennlaub F, Hallböök F, Goureau O, Guillonneau X. Ptf1a/Rbpj complex inhibits ganglion cell fate and drives the specification of all horizontal cell subtypes in the chick retina. Dev Biol 2011; 358:296-308. [PMID: 21839069 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2010] [Revised: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 07/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
During development, progenitor cells of the retina give rise to six principal classes of neurons and the Müller glial cells found within the adult retina. The pancreas transcription factor 1 subunit a (Ptf1a) encodes a basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor necessary for the specification of horizontal cells and the majority of amacrine cell subtypes in the mouse retina. The Ptf1a-regulated genes and the regulation of Ptf1a activity by transcription cofactors during retinogenesis have been poorly investigated. Using a retrovirus-mediated gene transfer approach, we reported that Ptf1a was sufficient to promote the fates of amacrine and horizontal cells from retinal progenitors and inhibit retinal ganglion cell and photoreceptor differentiation in the chick retina. Both GABAergic H1 and non-GABAergic H3 horizontal cells were induced following the forced expression of Ptf1a. We describe Ptf1a as a strong, negative regulator of Atoh7 expression. Furthermore, the Rbpj-interacting domains of Ptf1a protein were required for its effects on cell fate specification. Together, these data provide a novel insight into the molecular basis of Ptf1a activity on early cell specification in the chick retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- E C Lelièvre
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM UMR S872, 75006 Paris, France
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Gutierrez C, McNally M, Canto-Soler MV. Cytoskeleton proteins previously considered exclusive to ganglion cells are transiently expressed by all retinal neuronal precursors. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2011; 11:46. [PMID: 21781303 PMCID: PMC3161946 DOI: 10.1186/1471-213x-11-46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2011] [Accepted: 07/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Background Understanding the mechanisms governing cell fate specification remains one of the main challenges in the study of retinal development. In this context, molecular markers that identify specific cell types become crucial tools for the analysis and interpretation of these phenomena. In studies using the developing chick retina, expression of the mid-size neurofilament (NF-M) and a chick-specific microtubule associated protein recognized by the RA4 antibody (MAP(RA4)), have been broadly used to selectively identify ganglion cells and their committed precursors. However, observations in our laboratory suggested that the expression of these proteins may not be restricted to cells of the ganglion cell lineage. Because of its potential significance in the field, we pursued a detailed analysis of the expression of these two molecules in combination with an array of proteins that allowed precise identification of all retinal cell-type precursors throughout the development of the chick retina. Results Both, NF-M and MAP(RA4) proteins, showed a dynamic pattern of expression coincident with the progression of retinal cell differentiation. Both proteins were coexpressed spatially and temporally in postmitotic neuronal precursors throughout development. Expression of both proteins was seen in ganglion cell precursors and adult differentiated ganglion cells, but they were also transiently expressed by precursors of the photoreceptor, horizontal, bipolar and amacrine cell lineages. Conclusions We have clearly demonstrated that, contrary to the generally accepted paradigm, expression of NF-M and MAP(RA4) proteins is not exclusive to ganglion cells. Rather, both proteins are transiently expressed by all neuronal retinal progenitors in a developmentally-regulated manner. In addition, MAP(RA4) and NF-M are the first molecules so far characterized that may allow unambiguous identification of postmitotic precursors from the pool of mitotically active progenitors and/or the differentiated cell population during retinogenesis. These results are of significant impact for the field of developmental biology of the retina, since they provide novel and important information for the appropriate design and interpretation of studies on retinal cell differentiation, as well as for the reinterpretation of previously published studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Gutierrez
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, USA
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50
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Mao CA, Tsai WW, Cho JH, Pan P, Barton MC, Klein WH. Neuronal transcriptional repressor REST suppresses an Atoh7-independent program for initiating retinal ganglion cell development. Dev Biol 2010; 349:90-9. [PMID: 20969844 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2010] [Revised: 09/27/2010] [Accepted: 10/12/2010] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
As neuronal progenitors differentiate into neurons, they acquire a unique set of transcription factors. The transcriptional repressor REST prevents progenitors from undergoing differentiation. Notably, REST binding sites are often associated with retinal ganglion cell (RGC) genes whose expression in the retina is positively controlled by Atoh7, a factor essential for RGC formation. The key regulators that enable a retinal progenitor cell (RPC) to commit to an RGC fate have not been identified. We show here that REST suppresses RGC gene expression in RPCs. REST inactivation causes aberrant expression of RGC transcription factors in proliferating RPCs, independent of Atoh7, resulting in increased RGC formation. Strikingly, inactivating REST in Atoh7-null retinas restores transcription factor expression, which partially activates downstream RGC genes but is insufficient to prevent RGC loss. Our results demonstrate an Atoh7-independent program for initial activation of RGC genes and suggest a novel role for REST in preventing premature expression in RPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chai-An Mao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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