Generation, purification and transplantation of photoreceptors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Inherited and acquired retinal degenerations are frequent causes of visual impairment and photoreceptor cell replacement therapy may restore visual function to these individuals. To provide a source of new retinal neurons for cell based therapies, we developed methods to derive retinal progenitors from human ES cells. METHODOLOGY/PHYSICAL FINDINGS:In this report we have used a similar method to direct induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) from human fibroblasts to a retinal progenitor fate, competent to generate photoreceptors. We also found we could purify the photoreceptors derived from the iPS cells using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) after labeling photoreceptors with a lentivirus driving GFP from the IRBP cis-regulatory sequences. Moreover, we found that when we transplanted the FACS purified iPSC derived photoreceptors, they were able to integrate into a normal mouse retina and express photoreceptor markers. CONCLUSIONS:This report provides evidence that enriched populations of human photoreceptors can be derived from iPS cells.

SUBMITTER: Lamba DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2808350 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature