Retina-Specific Laminin 523 Drives Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Photoreceptors [bulk_RNAseq]
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Inherited retinal diseases and aged related macular degeneration are main causes of blindness that involves irreversible photoreceptor loss. Gene therapy approaches do not prevent photoreceptor degeneration during disease progression, and to date protocols for generating photoreceptors from pluripotent stem cells do not exist. Therefore, transplantation of photoreceptors containing retinal organoids is considered a potential option. However, in vitro formation of organoids requires animal-derived materials and they vary considerably in cell composition between batches, which strongly limits their applications in therapy. Here, we show that human recombinant retina-specific laminin isoform LN523, normally present in the extra cellular matrix ECM surrounding photoreceptors, supports differentiation of pluripotent embryonic stem cells to photoreceptor progenitors in vitro. Using a rabbit macular degeneration model, the transplanted and engrafted cells mature in vivo and form synaptic connectivity with the host retina. Furthermore, addition of a rod-derived cone viability factor increased the formation of cone photoreceptors. These results may pave the way for cell therapy treatment of macular degeneration.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE161414 | GEO | 2023/03/26
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA