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Author Spotlight: Simple and Efficient Neural Retina Organoid Production for Disease Modeling
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Enriched retinal ganglion cells derived from human embryonic stem cells
Katherine P Gill1, Sandy S C Hung1, Alexei Sharov2
1Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital &Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Scientific Reports
|August 11, 2016
Summary
Researchers developed a 45-day protocol using human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to generate functional retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). This method advances cell therapy for optic neuropathies by providing a reliable source of RGCs.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Optic neuropathies involve retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss, causing vision impairment.
- Developing effective cell therapies necessitates understanding stem cell differentiation into RGCs.
- Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) offer a renewable source for generating RGCs in vitro.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a protocol for generating an enriched population of functional RGCs from hESCs.
- To characterize the stem cell-derived RGCs for potential therapeutic applications.
Main Methods:
- A 45-day stepwise retinal differentiation protocol using hESCs.
- Magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) for RGC enrichment.
- Extensive characterization including gene/protein expression, transcriptome analysis, and assessment of axonal and mitochondrial function.
Main Results:
- The protocol successfully generated an enriched population of RGCs from hESCs.
- hESC-derived RGCs exhibited gene and protein expression profiles similar to adult human RGCs.
- These RGCs possessed mature characteristics, including long axons, functional electrophysiology, and mitochondrial axonal transport.
Conclusions:
- The developed protocol efficiently generates functional RGCs from hESCs.
- This advancement supports future research in optic neuropathy disease modeling.
- The protocol facilitates the development of novel cell-based therapies for vision impairment.
