1
|
Liu H, Lu S, Chen M, Gao N, Yang Y, Hu H, Ren Q, Liu X, Chen H, Zhu Q, Li S, Su J. Towards Stem/Progenitor Cell-Based Therapies for Retinal Degeneration. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:1459-1479. [PMID: 38809490 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10740-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Retinal degeneration (RD) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide and includes conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and Stargardt's disease (STGD). These diseases result in the permanent loss of vision due to the progressive and irreversible degeneration of retinal cells, including photoreceptors (PR) and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The adult human retina has limited abilities to regenerate and repair itself, making it challenging to achieve complete self-replenishment and functional repair of retinal cells. Currently, there is no effective clinical treatment for RD. Stem cell therapy, which involves transplanting exogenous stem cells such as retinal progenitor cells (RPCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), or activating endogenous stem cells like Müller Glia (MG) cells, holds great promise for regenerating and repairing retinal cells in the treatment of RD. Several preclinical and clinical studies have shown the potential of stem cell-based therapies for RD. However, the clinical translation of these therapies for the reconstruction of substantial vision still faces significant challenges. This review provides a comprehensive overview of stem/progenitor cell-based therapy strategies for RD, summarizes recent advances in preclinical studies and clinical trials, and highlights the major challenges in using stem/progenitor cell-based therapies for RD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Shuaiyan Lu
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Ming Chen
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Na Gao
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Yuhe Yang
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Huijuan Hu
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Qing Ren
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Hongxu Chen
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Qunyan Zhu
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325011, China
| | - Shasha Li
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, 325001, China.
| | - Jianzhong Su
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325011, China.
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, 325001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Preclinical Models of Retinitis Pigmentosa. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2560:181-215. [PMID: 36481897 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2651-1_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the name for a group of phenotypically-related heritable retinal degenerative disorders. Many genes have been implicated as causing variants of RP, and while the clinical phenotypes are remarkably similar, they may differ in age of onset, progression, and severity. Common inheritance patterns for specific genes connected with the development of the disorder include autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked. Modeling the disease in animals and other preclinical systems offers a cost-conscious, ethical, and time-efficient method for studying the disease subtypes. The history of RP models is briefly examined, and both naturally occurring and transgenic preclinical models of RP in many different organisms are discussed. Syndromic forms of RP and models thereof are reviewed as well.
Collapse
|
3
|
Meiser I, Majer J, Katsen-Globa A, Schulz A, Schmidt K, Stracke F, Koutsouraki E, Witt G, Keminer O, Pless O, Gardner J, Claussen C, Gribbon P, Neubauer JC, Zimmermann H. Droplet-based vitrification of adherent human induced pluripotent stem cells on alginate microcarrier influenced by adhesion time and matrix elasticity. Cryobiology 2021; 103:57-69. [PMID: 34582849 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The gold standard in cryopreservation is still conventional slow freezing of single cells or small aggregates in suspension, although major cell loss and limitation to non-specialised cell types in stem cell technology are known drawbacks. The requirement for rapidly available therapeutic and diagnostic cell types is increasing constantly. In the case of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) or their derivates, more sophisticated cryopreservation protocols are needed to address this demand. These should allow a preservation in their physiological, adherent state, an efficient re-cultivation and upscaling upon thawing towards high-throughput applications in cell therapies or disease modelling in drug discovery. Here, we present a novel vitrification-based method for adherent hiPSCs, designed for automated handling by microfluidic approaches and with ready-to-use potential e.g. in suspension-based bioreactors after thawing. Modifiable alginate microcarriers serve as a growth surface for adherent hiPSCs that were cultured in a suspension-based bioreactor and subsequently cryopreserved via droplet-based vitrification in comparison to conventional slow freezing. Soft (0.35%) versus stiff (0.65%) alginate microcarriers in concert with adhesion time variation have been examined. Findings revealed specific optimal conditions leading to an adhesion time and growth surface (matrix) elasticity dependent hypothesis on cryo-induced damaging regimes for adherent cell types. Deviations from the found optimum parameters give rise to membrane ruptures assessed via SEM and major cell loss after adherent vitrification. Applying the optimal conditions, droplet-based vitrification was superior to conventional slow freezing. A decreased microcarrier stiffness was found to outperform stiffer material regarding cell recovery, whereas the stemness characteristics of rewarmed hiPSCs were preserved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ina Meiser
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Saar, Germany.
| | - Julia Majer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Saar, Germany
| | - Alisa Katsen-Globa
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Saar, Germany
| | - André Schulz
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Saar, Germany
| | - Katharina Schmidt
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Saar, Germany
| | - Frank Stracke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Saar, Germany
| | | | - Gesa Witt
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, ScreeningPort, 22525, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Keminer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, ScreeningPort, 22525, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ole Pless
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, ScreeningPort, 22525, Hamburg, Germany
| | - John Gardner
- Censo Biotechnologies Ltd, Roslin Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Carsten Claussen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, ScreeningPort, 22525, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Philip Gribbon
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, ScreeningPort, 22525, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia C Neubauer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Saar, Germany; Fraunhofer Project Centre for Stem Cell Process Engineering, 97081, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Heiko Zimmermann
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Saar, Germany; Censo Biotechnologies Ltd, Roslin Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; Faculty of Marine Science, Universidad Católica Del Norte, 1781421, Coquimbo, Chile; Chair for Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology / Nanotechnology, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Andreazzoli M, Barravecchia I, De Cesari C, Angeloni D, Demontis GC. Inducible Pluripotent Stem Cells to Model and Treat Inherited Degenerative Diseases of the Outer Retina: 3D-Organoids Limitations and Bioengineering Solutions. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092489. [PMID: 34572137 PMCID: PMC8471616 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) affecting either photoreceptors or pigment epithelial cells cause progressive visual loss and severe disability, up to complete blindness. Retinal organoids (ROs) technologies opened up the development of human inducible pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) for disease modeling and replacement therapies. However, hiPSC-derived ROs applications to IRD presently display limited maturation and functionality, with most photoreceptors lacking well-developed outer segments (OS) and light responsiveness comparable to their adult retinal counterparts. In this review, we address for the first time the microenvironment where OS mature, i.e., the subretinal space (SRS), and discuss SRS role in photoreceptors metabolic reprogramming required for OS generation. We also address bioengineering issues to improve culture systems proficiency to promote OS maturation in hiPSC-derived ROs. This issue is crucial, as satisfying the demanding metabolic needs of photoreceptors may unleash hiPSC-derived ROs full potential for disease modeling, drug development, and replacement therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ivana Barravecchia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | | | - Debora Angeloni
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Gian Carlo Demontis
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Correspondence: (M.A.); (G.C.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yang C, Georgiou M, Atkinson R, Collin J, Al-Aama J, Nagaraja-Grellscheid S, Johnson C, Ali R, Armstrong L, Mozaffari-Jovin S, Lako M. Pre-mRNA Processing Factors and Retinitis Pigmentosa: RNA Splicing and Beyond. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:700276. [PMID: 34395430 PMCID: PMC8355544 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.700276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common inherited retinal disease characterized by progressive degeneration of photoreceptors and/or retinal pigment epithelium that eventually results in blindness. Mutations in pre-mRNA processing factors (PRPF3, 4, 6, 8, 31, SNRNP200, and RP9) have been linked to 15–20% of autosomal dominant RP (adRP) cases. Current evidence indicates that PRPF mutations cause retinal specific global spliceosome dysregulation, leading to mis-splicing of numerous genes that are involved in a variety of retina-specific functions and/or general biological processes, including phototransduction, retinol metabolism, photoreceptor disk morphogenesis, retinal cell polarity, ciliogenesis, cytoskeleton and tight junction organization, waste disposal, inflammation, and apoptosis. Importantly, additional PRPF functions beyond RNA splicing have been documented recently, suggesting a more complex mechanism underlying PRPF-RPs driven disease pathogenesis. The current review focuses on the key RP-PRPF genes, depicting the current understanding of their roles in RNA splicing, impact of their mutations on retinal cell’s transcriptome and phenome, discussed in the context of model species including yeast, zebrafish, and mice. Importantly, information on PRPF functions beyond RNA splicing are discussed, aiming at a holistic investigation of PRPF-RP pathogenesis. Finally, work performed in human patient-specific lab models and developing gene and cell-based replacement therapies for the treatment of PRPF-RPs are thoroughly discussed to allow the reader to get a deeper understanding of the disease mechanisms, which we believe will facilitate the establishment of novel and better therapeutic strategies for PRPF-RP patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunbo Yang
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Georgiou
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Atkinson
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Collin
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jumana Al-Aama
- Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Colin Johnson
- Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Ali
- King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lyle Armstrong
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Sina Mozaffari-Jovin
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Human Pluripotent Stem-Cell-Derived Models as a Missing Link in Drug Discovery and Development. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14060525. [PMID: 34070895 PMCID: PMC8230131 DOI: 10.3390/ph14060525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), have the potential to accelerate the drug discovery and development process. In this review, by analyzing each stage of the drug discovery and development process, we identified the active role of hPSC-derived in vitro models in phenotypic screening, target-based screening, target validation, toxicology evaluation, precision medicine, clinical trial in a dish, and post-clinical studies. Patient-derived or genome-edited PSCs can generate valid in vitro models for dissecting disease mechanisms, discovering novel drug targets, screening drug candidates, and preclinically and post-clinically evaluating drug safety and efficacy. With the advances in modern biotechnologies and developmental biology, hPSC-derived in vitro models will hopefully improve the cost-effectiveness and the success rate of drug discovery and development.
Collapse
|
7
|
Artero-Castro A, Long K, Bassett A, Ávila-Fernandez A, Cortón M, Vidal-Puig A, Jendelova P, Rodriguez-Jimenez FJ, Clemente E, Ayuso C, Erceg S. Gene Correction Recovers Phagocytosis in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Derived from Retinitis Pigmentosa-Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042092. [PMID: 33672445 PMCID: PMC7923278 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary retinal dystrophies (HRD) represent a significant cause of blindness, affecting mostly retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors (PRs), and currently suffer from a lack of effective treatments. Highly specialized RPE and PR cells interact mutually in the functional retina, therefore primary HRD affecting one cell type leading to a secondary HRD in the other cells. Phagocytosis is one of the primary functions of the RPE and studies have discovered that mutations in the phagocytosis-associated gene Mer tyrosine kinase receptor (MERTK) lead to primary RPE dystrophy. Treatment strategies for this rare disease include the replacement of diseased RPE with healthy autologous RPE to prevent PR degeneration. The generation and directed differentiation of patient-derived human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) may provide a means to generate autologous therapeutically-relevant adult cells, including RPE and PR. However, the continued presence of the MERTK gene mutation in patient-derived hiPSCs represents a significant drawback. Recently, we reported the generation of a hiPSC model of MERTK-associated Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) that recapitulates disease phenotype and the subsequent creation of gene-corrected RP-hiPSCs using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9. In this study, we differentiated gene-corrected RP-hiPSCs into RPE and found that these cells had recovered both wild-type MERTK protein expression and the lost phagocytosis of fluorescently-labeled photoreceptor outer segments observed in uncorrected RP-hiPSC-RPE. These findings provide proof-of-principle for the utility of gene-corrected hiPSCs as an unlimited cell source for personalized cell therapy of rare vision disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Artero-Castro
- Stem Cells Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Centro de Investigación Principe Felipe (CIPF), 46012 Valencia, Spain; (A.A.-C.); (F.J.R.-J.); (E.C.)
| | - Kathleen Long
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK; (K.L.); (A.B.)
| | - Andrew Bassett
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK; (K.L.); (A.B.)
| | - Almudena Ávila-Fernandez
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.Á.-F.); (M.C.); (C.A.)
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Cortón
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.Á.-F.); (M.C.); (C.A.)
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Vidal-Puig
- Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK;
| | - Pavla Jendelova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Department of Neuroregeneration, Czech Academy of Science, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Francisco Javier Rodriguez-Jimenez
- Stem Cells Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Centro de Investigación Principe Felipe (CIPF), 46012 Valencia, Spain; (A.A.-C.); (F.J.R.-J.); (E.C.)
| | - Eleonora Clemente
- Stem Cells Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Centro de Investigación Principe Felipe (CIPF), 46012 Valencia, Spain; (A.A.-C.); (F.J.R.-J.); (E.C.)
| | - Carmen Ayuso
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.Á.-F.); (M.C.); (C.A.)
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Slaven Erceg
- Stem Cells Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Centro de Investigación Principe Felipe (CIPF), 46012 Valencia, Spain; (A.A.-C.); (F.J.R.-J.); (E.C.)
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Department of Neuroregeneration, Czech Academy of Science, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic;
- National Stem Cell Bank-Valencia Node, Proteomics, Genotyping and Cell Line Platform, PRB3, ISCIII, Research Centre Principe Felipe, c/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-963-289-680 (ext. 1102)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hernández-Rodríguez EW, Escorcia AM, van der Kamp MW, Montero-Alejo AL, Caballero J. Multi-scale simulation reveals that an amino acid substitution increases photosensitizing reaction inputs in Rhodopsins. J Comput Chem 2020; 41:2278-2295. [PMID: 32757375 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.26392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Evaluating the availability of molecular oxygen (O2 ) and energy of excited states in the retinal binding site of rhodopsin is a crucial challenging first step to understand photosensitizing reactions in wild-type (WT) and mutant rhodopsins by absorbing visible light. In the present work, energies of the ground and excited states related to 11-cis-retinal and the O2 accessibility to the β-ionone ring are evaluated inside WT and human M207R mutant rhodopsins. Putative O2 pathways within rhodopsins are identified by using molecular dynamics simulations, Voronoi-diagram analysis, and implicit ligand sampling while retinal energetic properties are investigated through density functional theory, and quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical methods. Here, the predictions reveal that an amino acid substitution can lead to enough energy and O2 accessibility in the core hosting retinal of mutant rhodopsins to favor the photosensitized singlet oxygen generation, which can be useful in understanding retinal degeneration mechanisms and in designing blue-lighting-absorbing proteic photosensitizers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erix W Hernández-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Química Computacional, Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Andrés M Escorcia
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Ana L Montero-Alejo
- Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Matemática y del Medio Ambiente (FCNMM), Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Santiago, Chile
| | - Julio Caballero
- Departamento de Bioinformática, Centro de Bioinformática, Simulación y Modelado (CBSM), Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Fernández E, Alfaro A, González-López P. Toward Long-Term Communication With the Brain in the Blind by Intracortical Stimulation: Challenges and Future Prospects. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:681. [PMID: 32848535 PMCID: PMC7431631 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The restoration of a useful visual sense in a profoundly blind person by direct electrical stimulation of the visual cortex has been a subject of study for many years. However, the field of cortically based sight restoration has made few advances in the last few decades, and many problems remain. In this context, the scientific and technological problems associated with safe and effective communication with the brain are very complex, and there are still many unresolved issues delaying its development. In this work, we review some of the biological and technical issues that still remain to be solved, including long-term biotolerability, the number of electrodes required to provide useful vision, and the delivery of information to the implants. Furthermore, we emphasize the possible role of the neuroplastic changes that follow vision loss in the success of this approach. We propose that increased collaborations among clinicians, basic researchers, and neural engineers will enhance our ability to send meaningful information to the brain and restore a limited but useful sense of vision to many blind individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Fernández
- Institute of Bioengineering, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in the Network in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Arantxa Alfaro
- Center for Biomedical Research in the Network in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
- Hospital Vega Baja, Orihuela, Spain
| | - Pablo González-López
- Institute of Bioengineering, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
- Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Goureau O, Reichman S, Orieux G. [Retinal organoids as a new tool for understanding and treating retinal diseases]. Med Sci (Paris) 2020; 36:626-632. [PMID: 32614314 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2020098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of retinal organoids from pluripotent stem cells represents an important advance in the study of retinal development and offer new perspectives for the study of retinal diseases missing suitable animal models. Understanding the key stages of retinal development in vertebrates enabled to design protocols to generate self-organized three-dimensional structures derived from pluripotent stem cells and containing all retinal cell types. In addition to their application in basic research, such as the characterization of molecular and cellular mechanisms in retinal pathophysiology, these miniature organs also open up encouraging prospects in the field of cell therapy or the screening of therapeutic molecules, although some obstacles remain to be overcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Goureau
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Sacha Reichman
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Gaël Orieux
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ducloyer JB, Le Meur G, Cronin T, Adjali O, Weber M. La thérapie génique des rétinites pigmentaires héréditaires. Med Sci (Paris) 2020; 36:607-615. [DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2020095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Les rétinites pigmentaires, ou dystrophies rétiniennes héréditaires, sont des maladies dégénératives cécitantes d’origine génétique. La thérapie génique est une approche révolutionnaire en plein essor qui ouvre la voie au traitement de maladies jusqu’ici incurables. Une thérapie génique, le Luxturna®, a obtenu une autorisation de mise sur le marché par la FDA (Food and Drug Administration) fin 2017 et l’EMA (European Medicines Agency) fin 2018. Ce traitement, à l’efficacité démontrée, destiné aux patients porteurs d’une amaurose congénitale de Leber ou d’une rétinopathie pigmentaire en lien avec une mutation bi-allélique du gène RPE65, apporte beaucoup plus de questions que de réponses. Nous présentons, dans cette revue, les avancées actuelles, puis les défis technologiques, économiques et éthiques à surmonter pour que la thérapie génique améliore nos pratiques médicales.
Collapse
|
12
|
Gamm DM, Clark E, Capowski EE, Singh R. The Role of FGF9 in the Production of Neural Retina and RPE in a Pluripotent Stem Cell Model of Early Human Retinal Development. Am J Ophthalmol 2019; 206:113-131. [PMID: 31078532 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2019.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the role of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) in the production of neural retina (NR) and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) in a human pluripotent stem cell model of early retinal development. METHODS Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines from an individual with microphthalmia caused by a functional null mutation (R200Q) in visual system homeobox 2 (VSX2), a transcription factor involved in early NR progenitor cell (NRPC) production, and a normal sibling were differentiated along the retinal and forebrain lineages using an established protocol. Quantitative and global gene expression analyses (microarray and RNAseq) were used to investigate endogenous FGF expression profiles in these cultures over time. Based on these results, mutant and control hiPSC cultures were treated exogenously with selected FGFs and subjected to gene and protein expression analyses to determine their effects on RPE and NR production. RESULTS We found that FGF9 and FGF19 were selectively increased in early hiPSC-derived optic vesicles (OVs) when compared to isogenic cultures of hiPSC-derived forebrain neurospheres. Furthermore, these same FGFs were downregulated over time in (R200Q)VSX2 hiPSC-OVs relative to sibling control hiPSC-OVs. Interestingly, long-term supplementation with FGF9, but not FGF19, partially rescued the mutant retinal phenotype of the (R200Q)VSX2 hiPSC-OV model. However, antagonizing FGF9 in wild-type control hiPSCs did not alter OV development. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that FGF9 acts in concert with VSX2 to promote NR differentiation in hiPSC-OVs and has potential to be used to manipulate early retinogenesis and mitigate ocular defects caused by functional loss of VSX2 activity. NOTE: Publication of this article is sponsored by the American Ophthalmological Society.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David M Gamm
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
| | - Eric Clark
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Ruchira Singh
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Fouzdar-Jain S, Suh DW, Rizzo WB. Sjögren-Larsson syndrome: a complex metabolic disease with a distinctive ocular phenotype. Ophthalmic Genet 2019; 40:298-308. [DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2019.1660379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Samiksha Fouzdar-Jain
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Donny W Suh
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - William B Rizzo
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Guo NN, Liu LP, Zhang YX, Cai YT, Guo Y, Zheng YW, Li YM. Early prediction of the differentiation potential during the formation of human iPSC-derived embryoid bodies. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 516:673-679. [PMID: 31248595 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.06.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) show huge variations in their differentiation potential, even in the same condition. However, methods for predicting these differentiation tendencies, especially in the early stage of differentiation, are still scarce. This study aimed to establish a simple and practical system to predict the differentiation tendency of iPSC lines using embryoid bodies (EBs) with identified parameters in the early stage. We compared four human iPSC lines in terms of the morphology and maintenance of EBs and their gene expression levels of specific markers for three germ-layers. Furthermore, the differentiation potentials of these iPSC lines into melanocytes, which are ectoderm-derived cells, were also compared and correlated with the above parameters. The results showed that iPSC lines forming regular, smooth, and not cystic EBs, which could be maintained in culture for a relatively longer time, also expressed higher levels of ectoderm-specific markers and lower levels of mesoderm/endoderm markers. Additionally, these iPSC lines showed greater potential in melanocyte differentiation using EB-based protocol, and the induced melanocytes expressed melanocytic markers and presented characteristics that were similar to those of normal human melanocytes. By contrast, iPSC lines that formed cystic EBs with bright or dark cavities and expressed relatively lower levels of ectoderm-specific markers failed in the melanocyte differentiation. Collectively, the differentiation tendency of human iPSC lines may be predicted by specific parameters in the EB stage. The formation and maintenance of optimal EBs and the expression of germ layer-specific markers are particularly important and practical for the prediction assay in the early stage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ning-Ning Guo
- Jiangsu University Institute of Regenerative Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, China
| | - Li-Ping Liu
- Jiangsu University Institute of Regenerative Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, China
| | - Yi-Xuan Zhang
- Jiangsu University Institute of Regenerative Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, China
| | - Yu-Tian Cai
- Jiangsu University Institute of Regenerative Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, China
| | - Yuan Guo
- Jiangsu University Institute of Regenerative Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, China
| | - Yun-Wen Zheng
- Jiangsu University Institute of Regenerative Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, China; University of Tsukuba Faculty of Medicine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan; Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan.
| | - Yu-Mei Li
- Jiangsu University Institute of Regenerative Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Aasen DM, Vergara MN. New Drug Discovery Paradigms for Retinal Diseases: A Focus on Retinal Organoids. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2019; 36:18-24. [PMID: 31059378 PMCID: PMC6985764 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2018.0140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal disease represents a growing global problem, both in terms of quality of life and economic impact, yet new therapies are not being developed at a sufficient rate to meet this mounting need. In this context, retinal organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells hold significant promise for improving upon the current drug development process, increasing the speed and efficiency of moving potential therapeutic agents from bench to bedside. These organoid systems display the cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions, cellular heterogeneity, and physiological responses reflective of human biology and, thus, have the ability to replicate retinal disease pathology in a way that 2-dimensional cell cultures and animal models have been heretofore unable to achieve. However, organoid technology is not yet mature enough to meet the high-throughput demands of the first stages of drug screening. Hence, the augmentation of the existing drug development pipeline with retinal organoids, rather than the replacement of existing pathway components, may provide a way to harness the benefits of this improved pathological modeling. In this study, we outline the possible benefits of such a symbiosis, discuss other potential uses, and highlight barriers that remain to be overcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davis M Aasen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - M Natalia Vergara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.,CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.,Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Dalvi S, Galloway CA, Singh R. Pluripotent Stem Cells to Model Degenerative Retinal Diseases: The RPE Perspective. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1186:1-31. [PMID: 31654384 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-28471-8_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cell technology, including human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), has provided a suitable platform to investigate molecular and pathological alterations in an individual cell type using patient's own cells. Importantly, hiPSCs/hESCs are amenable to genome editing providing unique access to isogenic controls. Specifically, the ability to introduce disease-causing mutations in control (unaffected) and conversely correct disease-causing mutations in patient-derived hiPSCs has provided a powerful approach to clearly link the disease phenotype with a specific gene mutation. In fact, utilizing hiPSC/hESC and CRISPR technology has provided significant insight into the pathomechanism of several diseases. With regard to the eye, the use of hiPSCs/hESCs to study human retinal diseases is especially relevant to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-based disorders. This is because several studies have now consistently shown that hiPSC-RPE in culture displays key physical, gene expression and functional attributes of human RPE in vivo. In this book chapter, we will discuss the current utility, limitations, and plausible future approaches of pluripotent stem cell technology for the study of retinal degenerative diseases. Of note, although we will broadly summarize the significant advances made in modeling and studying several retinal diseases utilizing hiPSCs/hESCs, our specific focus will be on the utility of patient-derived hiPSCs for (1) establishment of human cell models and (2) molecular and pharmacological studies on patient-derived cell models of retinal degenerative diseases where RPE cellular defects play a major pathogenic role in disease development and progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonal Dalvi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Chad A Galloway
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Ruchira Singh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA. .,UR Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Rochester, NY, USA. .,Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Eldred KC, Hadyniak SE, Hussey KA, Brenerman B, Zhang PW, Chamling X, Sluch VM, Welsbie DS, Hattar S, Taylor J, Wahlin K, Zack DJ, Johnston RJ. Thyroid hormone signaling specifies cone subtypes in human retinal organoids. Science 2018; 362:362/6411/eaau6348. [PMID: 30309916 PMCID: PMC6249681 DOI: 10.1126/science.aau6348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Cone photoreceptors in the human retina enable daytime, color, and high-acuity vision. The three subtypes of human cones are defined by the visual pigment that they express: blue-opsin (short wavelength; S), green-opsin (medium wavelength; M), or red-opsin (long wavelength; L). Mutations that affect opsin expression or function cause various forms of color blindness and retinal degeneration. RATIONALE: Our current understanding of the vertebrate eye has been derived primarily from the study of model organisms. We studied the human retina to understand the developmental mechanisms that generate the mosaic of mutually exclusive cone subtypes. Specification of human cones occurs in a two-step process. First, a decision occurs between S versus L/M cone fates. If the L/M fate is chosen, a subsequent choice is made between expression of L- or M-opsin. To determine the mechanism that controls the first decision between S and L/M cone fates, we studied human retinal organoids derived from stem cells. RESULTS: We found that human organoids and retinas have similar distributions, gene expression profiles, and morphologies of cone subtypes. During development, S cones are specified first, followed by L/M cones. This temporal switch from specification of S cones to generation of L/M cones is controlled by thyroid hormone (TH) signaling. In retinal organoids that lacked thyroid hormone receptor β (Thrβ), all cones developed into the S subtype. Thrβ binds with high affinity to triiodothyronine (T3), the more active form of TH, to regulate gene expression. We observed that addition of T3 early during development induced L/M fate in nearly all cones. Thus, TH signaling through Thrβ is necessary and sufficient to induce L/M cone fate and suppress S fate. TH exists largely in two states: thyroxine (T4), the most abundant circulating form of TH, and T3, which binds TH receptors with high affinity. We hypothesized that the retina itself could modulate TH levels to control subtype fates. We found that deiodinase 3 (DIO3), an enzyme that degrades both T3 and T4, was expressed early in organoid and retina development. Conversely, deiodinase 2 (DIO2), an enzyme that converts T4 to active T3, as well as TH carriers and transporters, were expressed later in development. Temporally dynamic expression of TH-degrading and -activating proteins supports a model in which the retina itself controls TH levels, ensuring low TH signaling early to specify S cones and high TH signaling later in development to produce L/M cones. CONCLUSION: Studies of model organisms and human epidemiology often generate hypotheses about human biology that cannot be studied in humans. Organoids provide a system to determine the mechanisms of human development, enabling direct testing of hypotheses in developing human tissue. Our studies identify temporal regulation of TH signaling as a mechanism that controls cone subtype specification in humans. Consistent with our findings, preterm human infants with low T3 and T4 have an increased incidence of color vision defects. Moreover, our identification of a mechanism that generates one cone subtype while suppressing the other, coupled with successful transplantation and incorporation of stem cell-derived photoreceptors in mice, suggests that the promise of therapies to treat human diseases such as color blindness, retinitis pigmentosa, and macular degeneration will be achieved in the near future. ■ The mechanisms underlying specification of neuronal subtypes within the human nervous system are largely unknown. The blue (S), green (M), and red (L) cones of the retina enable high-acuity daytime and color vision. To determine the mechanism that controls S versus L/M fates, we studied the differentiation of human retinal organoids. Organoids and retinas have similar distributions, expression profiles, and morphologies of cone subtypes. S cones are specified first, followed by L/M cones, and thyroid hormone signaling controls this temporal switch. Dynamic expression of thyroid hormone–degrading and –activating proteins within the retina ensures low signaling early to specify S cones and high signaling late to produce L/M cones. This work establishes organoids as a model for determining mechanisms of human development with promising utility for therapeutics and vision repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiara C Eldred
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Sarah E Hadyniak
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Katarzyna A Hussey
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Boris Brenerman
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Ping-Wu Zhang
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Xitiz Chamling
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Valentin M Sluch
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Derek S Welsbie
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Samer Hattar
- National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - James Taylor
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Karl Wahlin
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Donald J Zack
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.,Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Robert J Johnston
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Lako M. Special Series: Transplantation of Stem Cells into the Eye. Stem Cells 2018; 36:1454-1456. [PMID: 30133946 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Majlinda Lako
- Newcastle University, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Fernandez E. Development of visual Neuroprostheses: trends and challenges. Bioelectron Med 2018; 4:12. [PMID: 32232088 PMCID: PMC7098238 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-018-0013-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual prostheses are implantable medical devices that are able to provide some degree of vision to individuals who are blind. This research field is a challenging subject in both ophthalmology and basic science that has progressed to a point where there are already several commercially available devices. However, at present, these devices are only able to restore a very limited vision, with relatively low spatial resolution. Furthermore, there are still many other open scientific and technical challenges that need to be solved to achieve the therapeutic benefits envisioned by these new technologies. This paper provides a brief overview of significant developments in this field and introduces some of the technical and biological challenges that still need to be overcome to optimize their therapeutic success, including long-term viability and biocompatibility of stimulating electrodes, the selection of appropriate patients for each artificial vision approach, a better understanding of brain plasticity and the development of rehabilitative strategies specifically tailored for each patient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Fernandez
- Institute of Bioengineering, University Miguel Hernández and CIBER-BBN, Avda de la Universidad, s/n, 03202 Alicante, Elche Spain.,2John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
| |
Collapse
|