Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lyndsay L. Leach, Nicholas J. Hanovice, Stephanie M. George, Ana E. Gabriel, Jeffrey M. Gross
Summary: Research has revealed that zebrafish RPE has strong intrinsic regenerative potential, with elements of immune response identified as critical mediators in the regeneration process. Macrophage/microglia cells are responsive to RPE damage and essential for the timely progression of regenerative response.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Ophthalmology
Romain Touze, Marc M. Abitbol, Dominique Bremond-Gignac, Matthieu P. Robert
Summary: This study confirms the dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), characterized by a lower dark trough (DT) and a corresponding higher light peak (LP)/DT ratio. This pattern may be due to a dysregulation of melanocytogenesis, leading to disrupted calcium ion flux and abnormal polarization of the RPE.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Zhongjie Fu, Lois E. H. Smith
Summary: Pathologic angiogenesis in eye diseases leading to blindness can be attributed to cell senescence, as demonstrated by the bioinformatics study conducted by Crespo-Garcia, Tsuruda, and Dejda. Their findings were validated in human and mouse retina models, where clearance of senescent cells effectively suppressed neovessel growth.
TRENDS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Jinying Li, Chen Qiu, Yang Wei, Weixin Yuan, Jia Liu, Wenyu Cui, Jiayi Zhou, Cong Qiu, Lihe Guo, Liquan Huang, Zhen Ge, Luyang Yu
Summary: Human amniotic epithelial stem cells can differentiate into RPE like cells with the help of trichostatin A and nicotinamide, showing potential therapeutic effects for age-related macular degeneration. Subretinal transplantation of these cells in RCS rats resulted in rescued visual function and retinal structure.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Kang V. Li, Miguel Flores-Bellver, Silvia Aparicio-Domingo, Carson Petrash, Hannah Cobb, Conan Chen, M. Valeria Canto-Soler, Marc T. Mathias
Summary: Transplantation of stem cell-derived RPE cells is a promising therapy for retinal degenerative diseases. This study presents a set of clinically applicable devices for the subretinal implantation of RPE grafts. The devices demonstrated biocompatibility and high preservation of RPE transplants, and the surgical device allowed precise delivery of the transplants without causing damage.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mohamed A. Faynus, Jeffrey K. Bailey, Britney O. Pennington, Mika Katsura, Duncan A. Proctor, Ashley K. Yeh, Sneha Menon, Dylan G. Choi, Jane S. Lebkowski, Lincoln Johnson, Dennis O. Clegg
Summary: Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye disease with no current treatment options. Using microcarrier technology for cell culture allows efficient large-scale production of therapeutic retinal pigmented epithelial cells, fulfilling the treatment demands.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Santosh Gupta, Lyubomyr Lytvynchuk, Taras Ardan, Hana Studenovska, Georgina Faura, Lars Eide, Ljubo Znaor, Slaven Erceg, Knut Stieger, Jan Motlik, Kapil Bharti, Goran Petrovski
Summary: The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays a crucial role in maintaining the normal physiology of the eye, and damage to the RPE can lead to degenerative eye diseases. Currently, stem cell-derived RPE transplantation is being explored for treating early stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This article focuses on developmental studies and stem cell-based research to understand the biology and derive functional RPEs.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Song Yang, Jun Zhou, Dengwen Li
Summary: The retinal pigment epithelium is crucial for visual functions, but damage to its structure and function can lead to various retinopathies with no cure currently available. Understanding the development, function, and pathobiology of the retinal pigment epithelium is essential for preventing and treating retinopathies. This review discusses potential strategies for treatment and provides new perspectives for future research in this field.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Elodie Reboussin, Juliette Buffault, Francoise Brignole-Baudouin, Annabelle Reaux-Le Goazigo, Luisa Riancho, Celine Olmiere, Jose-Alain Sahel, Stephane Melik Parsadaniantz, Christophe Baudouin
Summary: This study demonstrated the neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of MSCs on RGCs in an ex vivo neuroretina explant model. However, co-culture with MSCs led to explant edema and the formation of an epiretinal membrane-like phenotype. The use of MSC secretome may offer the beneficial effects of MSCs without their potential adverse effects through paracrine signaling.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bhav Harshad Parikh, Paul Blakeley, Kakkad Regha, Zengping Liu, Binxia Yang, Mayuri Bhargava, Daniel Soo Lin Wong, Queenie Shu Woon Tan, Claudine See Wei Wong, Hao Fei Wang, Abdurrahmaan Al-Mubaarak, Chai Chou, Chui Ming Gemmy Cheung, Kah Leong Lim, Veluchamy Amutha Barathi, Walter Hunziker, Gopal Lingam, Tim Xiaoming Hu, Xinyi Su
Summary: Transplantation of stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is a potential treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, there is limited understanding of how the recipient retina regulates the survival and maturation of transplanted RPE cells. In this study, we transplanted stem cell-derived RPE into rabbits and analyzed their gene expression, finding that the transplanted RPE cells retained their identity and showed maturation towards the normal RPE state. Transcription factors FOS, JUND, and MAFF were activated in the transplanted RPE cells and played important roles in regulating gene expression related to supporting host photoreceptor function and promoting cell survival.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Eabha O'Driscoll, Emily Hughes, Mustapha Irnaten, Markus Kuehn, Deborah Wallace, Colm O'Brien
Summary: Optic nerve head cupping, a feature of glaucoma, is associated with extracellular matrix remodeling and lamina cribrosa fibrosis. Peripapillary atrophy is common in glaucoma and involves the loss of retinal pigment epithelium adjacent to the optic nerve head. Under pro-fibrotic conditions, epithelial cells can undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and contribute to extracellular matrix fibrosis. This study investigates the role of this process in glaucoma and peripapillary atrophy, demonstrating the presence of retinal pigment epithelium cells in glaucomatous optic nerve heads and the potential of these cells to differentiate into fibroblast-like cells.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Kumiko Hirayama, Manabu Yamamoto, Takeya Kohno, Akika Kyo, Dirk Theisen-Kunde, Ralf Brinkmann, Yoko Miura, Shigeru Honda
Summary: The study investigates the effect of selective retina therapy (SRT) for macular serous retinal detachment (MSRD) associated with tilted disc syndrome (TDS). SRT may promote absorption of MSRD and maintenance of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for TDS. Randomized and prospective clinical studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of SRT for MSRD associated with TDS.
GRAEFES ARCHIVE FOR CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hirotaka Yokouchi, Daisuke Nagasato, Yoshinori Mitamura, Mariko Egawa, Hitoshi Tabuchi, Sonoko Misawa, Satoshi Kuwabara, Takayuki Baba
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether fluctuations in serum VEGF levels affect choroidal vascular structures in patients with POEMS syndrome. The results showed that 6 months after treatment, serum VEGF levels and the areas of the whole choroid, luminal, and stromal areas had significantly decreased compared to the baseline values. Additionally, the fluctuations in choroidal thickening and luminal area were significantly positively correlated with fluctuations in serum VEGF levels. These findings provide insights into the pathogenesis of POEMS syndrome and the role of serum VEGF in choroidal vascular structure, which may have implications for other ocular diseases.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Helena Isla-Magrane, Anna Veiga, Jose Garcia-Arumi, Anna Duarri
Summary: A two-step method was established to obtain self-organized multizone ocular progenitor cells (mzOPCs) from 2D hiPSC cultures within three weeks, which were then grown in suspension to create 3D multiocular organoids. These organoids exhibited correct layering of retinal regions, resembled transparent ocular-surface epithelium in the corneal regions, and contained interactions between different cell types and regions of the eye system. This approach demonstrated the advantages of the combined 2D-3D construction tissue model in creating a more ocular native-like cellular environment for modeling eye development and disease.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jingxue Zhang, Shen Wu, Zi-Bing Jin, Ningli Wang
Summary: This article reviews recent research progress in utilizing stem cell therapy for glaucoma, including methods such as cell transplantation to replace damaged RGCs, providing nutritional factors, supplying healthy cellular components, and mediating cellular transdifferentiation to achieve endogenous regeneration of RGCs.