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Human iPSC-derived photoreceptor transplantation in the cone dominant 13-lined ground squirrel. Stem Cell Reports 2024 Mar 12;19(3):331-342

Date

02/10/2024

Pubmed ID

38335965

Pubmed Central ID

PMC10937153

DOI

10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.01.005

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85186065745 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)

Abstract

Several retinal degenerations affect the human central retina, which is primarily comprised of cones and is essential for high acuity and color vision. Transplanting cone photoreceptors is a promising strategy to replace degenerated cones in this region. Although this approach has been investigated in a handful of animal models, commonly used rodent models lack a cone-rich region and larger models can be expensive and inaccessible, impeding the translation of therapies. Here, we transplanted dissociated GFP-expressing photoreceptors from retinal organoids differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells into the subretinal space of damaged and undamaged cone-dominant 13-lined ground squirrel eyes. Transplanted cell survival was documented via noninvasive high-resolution imaging and immunohistochemistry to confirm the presence of human donor photoreceptors for up to 4 months posttransplantation. These results demonstrate the utility of a cone-dominant rodent model for advancing the clinical translation of cell replacement therapies.

Author List

Yu CT, Kandoi S, Periasamy R, Reddy LVK, Follett HM, Summerfelt P, Martinez C, Guillaume C, Bowie O, Connor TB, Lipinski DM, Allen KP, Merriman DK, Carroll J, Lamba DA

Authors

Kenneth Paul Allen DVM Associate Professor in the Research Office department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Joseph J. Carroll PhD Director, Professor in the Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Thomas B. Connor MD Professor in the Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Daniel M. Lipinski PhD Associate Professor in the Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Humans
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Retina
Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells
Retinal Degeneration
Sciuridae