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Transplantation of adult mouse iPS cell-derived photoreceptor precursors restores retinal structure and function in degenerative mice
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Transplantation of adult mouse iPS cell-derived photoreceptor precursors restores retinal structure and function in degenerative mice

Budd A Tucker, In-Hyun Park, Sara D Qi, Henry J Klassen, Caihui Jiang, Stephen Redenti, Jing Yao, George Q Daley and Michael J Young
PloS one, Vol.6(4), pp.e18992-e18992
04/29/2011
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018992
PMCID: PMC3084746
PMID: 21559507
url
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0018992View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

This study was designed to determine whether adult mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), could be used to produce retinal precursors and subsequently photoreceptor cells for retinal transplantation to restore retinal function in degenerative hosts. iPSCs were generated using adult dsRed mouse dermal fibroblasts via retroviral induction of the transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, KLF4 and c-Myc. As with normal mouse ES cells, adult dsRed iPSCs expressed the pluripotency genes SSEA1, Oct4, Sox2, KLF4, c-Myc and Nanog. Following transplantation into the eye of immune-compromised retinal degenerative mice these cells proceeded to form teratomas containing tissue comprising all three germ layers. At 33 days post-differentiation a large proportion of the cells expressed the retinal progenitor cell marker Pax6 and went on to express the photoreceptor markers, CRX, recoverin, and rhodopsin. When tested using calcium imaging these cells were shown to exhibit characteristics of normal retinal physiology, responding to delivery of neurotransmitters. Following subretinal transplantation into degenerative hosts differentiated iPSCs took up residence in the retinal outer nuclear layer and gave rise to increased electro retinal function as determined by ERG and functional anatomy. As such, adult fibroblast-derived iPSCs provide a viable source for the production of retinal precursors to be used for transplantation and treatment of retinal degenerative disease.
Cell Differentiation Electroretinography - methods Cell Proliferation Photoreceptor Cells - cytology Mice, Inbred C57BL Mice, SCID Immunohistochemistry - methods Animals Retina - cytology Mice Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - cytology Retina - pathology Cell Transplantation - methods Disease Models, Animal Eye Diseases - therapy

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