Journal article
Device-free isolation of photoreceptor cells from patient iPSC-derived retinal organoids
JCI insight, Vol.10(14), e186338
07/22/2025
DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.186338
PMCID: PMC12288960
PMID: 40504625
Abstract
Autologous photoreceptor cell replacement is one of the most promising strategies currently being developed for the treatment of patients with inherited retinal degenerative blindness. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived retinal organoids, which faithfully recapitulate the structure of the neural retina, are an ideal source of transplantable photoreceptors required for these therapies. However, retinal organoids contain other retinal cell types, including bipolar, horizontal and amacrine cells, which are unneeded and may reduce the potency of the final therapeutic product. Therefore, approaches for isolating fate committed photoreceptor cells from dissociated retinal organoids are desirable. In this work, we present partial dissociation, a technique which leverages the high level of organization found in retinal organoids to enable selective enrichment of photoreceptor cells without the use of specialized equipment or reagents such as antibody labels. We demonstrate up to 90% photoreceptor cell purity by simply selecting cell fractions liberated from retinal organoids during enzymatic digestion in the absence of mechanical dissociation. As the presented approach relies on the use of standard plasticware and commercially available cGMP compliant reagents, we believe that it is ideal for use in the preparation of clinical photoreceptor cell replacement therapies.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Device-free isolation of photoreceptor cells from patient iPSC-derived retinal organoids
- Creators
- Nicholas E Stone - University of IowaLaura R Bohrer - University of IowaNathaniel K Mullin - University of IowaAlexander Berthold - Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, United States of AmericaAllison T Wright - University of IowaIan C Han - University of IowaEdwin M Stone - University of IowaRobert F Mullins - University of IowaBudd A Tucker - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- JCI insight, Vol.10(14), e186338
- DOI
- 10.1172/jci.insight.186338
- PMID
- 40504625
- PMCID
- PMC12288960
- NLM abbreviation
- JCI Insight
- ISSN
- 2379-3708
- eISSN
- 2379-3708
- Publisher
- AMER SOC CLINICAL INVESTIGATION INC
- Grant note
- Carver College of MedicineHolden Comprehensive Cancer CenterIowa City Veteran's Administration Medical CenterGenomics Division of the Iowa Institute of Human Genetics: RRID: SCR_023422 University of Iowa Carver College of MedicineNational Eye Institute: R01EY033331, R21EY036143 National Science Foundation: 2225488
Data presented herein were obtained at the Flow Cytometry Facility, which is a Carver College of Medicine/Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center core research facility at the University of Iowa. The facility is funded through user fees and the financial support of the Carver College of Medicine, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Iowa City Veteran's Administration Medical Center. Data presented herein were obtained at the Genomics Division of the Iowa Institute of Human Genetics (RRID: SCR_023422) , which is supported, in part, by the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. This work was supported by funding from the National Eye Institute (R01EY033331, R21EY036143) and the National Science Foundation (no. 2225488) .
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 06/12/2025
- Date published
- 07/22/2025
- Academic Unit
- The University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; John and Marcia Carver Nonprofit Genetic Testing Laboratory; Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984829022702771
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