• Medientyp: E-Artikel
  • Titel: Efficient differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to retinal pigment epithelium under defined conditions
  • Beteiligte: Limnios, Ioannis J.; Chau, Yu-Qian; Skabo, Stuart J.; Surrao, Denver C.; O’Neill, Helen C.
  • Erschienen: Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2021
  • Erschienen in: Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 12 (2021) 1
  • Sprache: Englisch
  • DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02316-7
  • ISSN: 1757-6512
  • Entstehung:
  • Anmerkungen:
  • Beschreibung: Abstract Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a highly prevalent form of blindness caused by loss death of cells of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Transplantation of pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived RPE cells is considered a promising therapy to regenerate cell function and vision. Objective The objective of this study is to develop a rapid directed differentiation method for production of RPE cells from PSC which is rapid, efficient, and fully defined and produces cells suitable for clinical use. Design A protocol for cell growth and differentiation from hESCs was developed to induce differentiation through screening small molecules which regulated a primary stage of differentiation to the eyefield progenitor, and then, a subsequent set of molecules to drive differentiation to RPE cells. Methods for cell plating and maintenance have been optimized to give a homogeneous population of cells in a short 14-day period, followed by a procedure to support maturation of cell function. Results We show here the efficient production of RPE cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) using small molecules in a feeder-free system using xeno-free/defined medium. Flow cytometry at day 14 showed ~ 90% of cells expressed the RPE markers MITF and PMEL17. Temporal gene analysis confirmed differentiation through defined cell intermediates. Mature hESC-RPE cell monolayers exhibited key morphological, molecular, and functional characteristics of the endogenous RPE. Conclusion This study identifies a novel cell differentiation process for rapid and efficient production of retinal RPE cells directly from hESCs. The described protocol has utility for clinical-grade cell production for human therapy to treat AMD.
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