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Kawai K, Ho MT, Ueno Y, Abdo D, Xue C, Nonaka H, Nishida H, Honma Y, Wallace VA, Shoichet MS. Hyaluronan improves photoreceptor differentiation and maturation in human retinal organoids. Acta Biomater 2024; 181:117-132. [PMID: 38705224 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Human stem cell-derived organoids enable both disease modeling and serve as a source of cells for transplantation. Human retinal organoids are particularly important as a source of human photoreceptors; however, the long differentiation period required and lack of vascularization in the organoid often results in a necrotic core and death of inner retinal cells before photoreceptors are fully mature. Manipulating the in vitro environment of differentiating retinal organoids through the incorporation of extracellular matrix components could influence retinal development. We investigated the addition of hyaluronan (HA), a component of the interphotoreceptor matrix, as an additive to promote long-term organoid survival and enhance retinal maturation. HA treatment had a significant reduction in the proportion of proliferating (Ki67+) cells and increase in the proportion of photoreceptors (CRX+), suggesting that HA accelerated photoreceptor commitment in vitro. HA significantly upregulated genes specific to photoreceptor maturation and outer segment development. Interestingly, prolonged HA-treatment significantly decreased the length of the brush border layer compared to those in control retinal organoids, where the photoreceptor outer segments reside; however, HA-treated organoids also had more mature outer segments with organized discs structures, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy. The brush border layer length was inversely proportional to the molar mass and viscosity of the hyaluronan added. This is the first study to investigate the role of exogenous HA, viscosity, and polymer molar mass on photoreceptor maturation, emphasizing the importance of material properties on organoid culture. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Retinal organoids are a powerful tool to study retinal development in vitro, though like many other organoid systems, can be highly variable. In this work, Shoichet and colleagues investigated the use of hyaluronan (HA), a native component of the interphotoreceptor matrix, to improve photoreceptor maturation in developing human retinal organoids. HA promoted human photoreceptor differentiation leading to mature outer segments with disc formation and more uniform and healthy retinal organoids. These findings highlight the importance of adding components native to the developing retina to generate more physiologically relevant photoreceptors for cell therapy and in vitro models to drive drug discovery and uncover novel disease mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotoe Kawai
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan
| | - Margaret T Ho
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Yui Ueno
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Dhana Abdo
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Chang Xue
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Hidenori Nonaka
- Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nishida
- Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan
| | - Yoichi Honma
- Regenerative Medicine Research and Planning Division, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 6-5-4 Kunimidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan
| | - Valerie A Wallace
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Molly S Shoichet
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada.
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Zhang H, Wu LZ, Liu ZY, Jin ZB. Patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells with a MERTK mutation exhibit cell junction abnormalities and aberrant cellular differentiation potential. World J Stem Cells 2024; 16:512-524. [PMID: 38817331 PMCID: PMC11135251 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v16.i5.512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology is a valuable tool for generating patient-specific stem cells, facilitating disease modeling, and investigating disease mechanisms. However, iPSCs carrying specific mutations may limit their clinical applications due to certain inherent characteristics. AIM To investigate the impact of MERTK mutations on hiPSCs and determine whether hiPSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) influence anomalous cell junction and differentiation potential. METHODS We employed a non-integrating reprogramming technique to generate peripheral blood-derived hiPSCs with and hiPSCs without a MERTK mutation. Chromosomal karyotype analysis, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescent staining were utilized for hiPSC identification. Transcriptomics and proteomics were employed to elucidate the expression patterns associated with cell junction abnormalities and cellular differentiation potential. Additionally, EVs were isolated from the supernatant, and their RNA and protein cargos were examined to investigate the involvement of hiPSC-derived EVs in stem cell junction and differentiation. RESULTS The generated hiPSCs, both with and without a MERTK mutation, exhibited normal karyotype and expressed pluripotency markers; however, hiPSCs with a MERTK mutation demonstrated anomalous adhesion capability and differentiation potential, as confirmed by transcriptomic and proteomic profiling. Furthermore, hiPSC-derived EVs were involved in various biological processes, including cell junction and differentiation. CONCLUSION HiPSCs with a MERTK mutation displayed altered junction characteristics and aberrant differentiation potential. Furthermore, hiPSC-derived EVs played a regulatory role in various biological processes, including cell junction and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Ling-Zi Wu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Liu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China.
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Xu J, Yu SJ, Sun S, Li YP, Zhang X, Jin K, Jin ZB. Enhanced innate responses in microglia derived from retinoblastoma patient-specific iPSCs. Glia 2024; 72:872-884. [PMID: 38258347 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
RB1 deficiency leads to retinoblastoma (Rb), the most prevalent intraocular malignancy. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are related to local inflammation disorder, particularly by increasing cytokines and immune escape. Microglia, the unique resident macrophages for retinal homeostasis, are the most important immune cells of Rb. However, whether RB1 deficiency affects microglial function remain unknown. In this study, microglia were successfully differentiated from Rb patient- derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and then we investigated the function of RB1 in microglia by live imaging phagocytosis assay, immunofluorescence, RNA-seq, qRT-PCR, ELISA and retina organoids/microglia co-culturing. RB1 was abundantly expressed in microglia and predominantly located in the nucleus. We then examined the phagocytosis ability and secretion function of iMGs in vitro. We found that RB1 deficiency did not affect the expression of microglia-specific markers or the phagocytic abilities of these cells by live-imaging. Upon LPS stimulation, RB1-deficient microglia displayed enhanced innate immune responses, as evidenced by activated MAPK signaling pathway and elevated expression of IL-6 and TNF-α at both mRNA and protein levels, compared to wildtype microglia. Furthermore, retinal structure disruption was observed when retinal organoids were co-cultured with RB1-deficient microglia, highlighting the potential contribution of microglia to Rb development and potential therapeutic strategies for retinoblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Xu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Jian Yu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuning Sun
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Ping Li
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Kangxin Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Kurzawa-Akanbi M, Tzoumas N, Corral-Serrano JC, Guarascio R, Steel DH, Cheetham ME, Armstrong L, Lako M. Pluripotent stem cell-derived models of retinal disease: Elucidating pathogenesis, evaluating novel treatments, and estimating toxicity. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024; 100:101248. [PMID: 38369182 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Blindness poses a growing global challenge, with approximately 26% of cases attributed to degenerative retinal diseases. While gene therapy, optogenetic tools, photosensitive switches, and retinal prostheses offer hope for vision restoration, these high-cost therapies will benefit few patients. Understanding retinal diseases is therefore key to advance effective treatments, requiring in vitro models replicating pathology and allowing quantitative assessments for drug discovery. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) provide a unique solution given their limitless supply and ability to differentiate into light-responsive retinal tissues encompassing all cell types. This review focuses on the history and current state of photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell generation from PSCs. We explore the applications of this technology in disease modelling, experimental therapy testing, biomarker identification, and toxicity studies. We consider challenges in scalability, standardisation, and reproducibility, and stress the importance of incorporating vasculature and immune cells into retinal organoids. We advocate for high-throughput automation in data acquisition and analyses and underscore the value of advanced micro-physiological systems that fully capture the interactions between the neural retina, RPE, and choriocapillaris.
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Ying R, Li C, Li H, Zou J, Hu M, Hong Q, Shen Y, Hou L, Cheng H, Zhou R. RPGR is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small GTPase RAB37 required for retinal function via autophagy regulation. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114010. [PMID: 38536817 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the small GTPase RAB37 acts as an organizer of autophagosome biogenesis, the upstream regulatory mechanism of autophagy via guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-guanosine triphosphate (GTP) exchange in maintaining retinal function has not been determined. We found that retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates RAB37 by accelerating GDP-to-GTP exchange. RPGR directly interacts with RAB37 via the RPGR-RCC1-like domain to promote autophagy through stimulating exchange. Rpgr knockout (KO) in mice leads to photoreceptor degeneration owing to autophagy impairment in the retina. Notably, the retinopathy phenotypes of Rpgr KO retinas are rescued by the adeno-associated virus-mediated transfer of pre-trans-splicing molecules, which produce normal Rpgr mRNAs via trans-splicing in the Rpgr KO retinas. This rescue upregulates autophagy through the re-expression of RPGR in KO retinas to accelerate GDP-to-GTP exchange; thus, retinal homeostasis reverts to normal. Taken together, these findings provide an important missing link for coordinating RAB37 GDP-GTP exchange via the RPGR and retinal homeostasis by autophagy regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruhong Ying
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Cong Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Huirong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, China
| | - Juan Zou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Mengxin Hu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Qiang Hong
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yin Shen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ling Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, China.
| | - Hanhua Cheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
| | - Rongjia Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
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Lin X, Liu ZL, Zhang X, Wang W, Huang ZQ, Sun SN, Jin ZB. Modeling autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa by using patient-specific retinal organoids with a class-3 RHO mutation. Exp Eye Res 2024; 241:109856. [PMID: 38479725 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Rhodopsin-mediated autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RHO-adRP) causes progressive vision loss and is potentially incurable, accounting for 25% of adRP cases. Studies on RHO-adRP mechanism were at large based on the biochemical and cellular properties, especially class-3. Nonetheless, the absence of an appropriate model for class-3 RHO-adRP has impeded comprehensive exploration. Here, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated from a healthy control and two sibling RP patients with the same point mutation, c.403C>T (p.R135W). The first three-dimensional (3D) retinal organoid model of a class-3 RHO point mutation from patient-derived iPSCs was generated. Significant defects were observed in rod photoreceptors in terms of localization, morphology, transcriptional profiling and single cell resolution, to better understand the human disease resulting from RHO mutations from a developmental perspective. This first human model of class-3 RHO-adRP provides a representation of patient's retina in vitro and displays features of RHO-adRP retinal organoids relevant for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Lin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zhuo-Lin Liu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wen Wang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zhi-Qin Huang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Shu-Ning Sun
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
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7
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Ko J, Hyung S, Cheong S, Chung Y, Li Jeon N. Revealing the clinical potential of high-resolution organoids. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 207:115202. [PMID: 38336091 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The symbiotic interplay of organoid technology and advanced imaging strategies yields innovative breakthroughs in research and clinical applications. Organoids, intricate three-dimensional cell cultures derived from pluripotent or adult stem/progenitor cells, have emerged as potent tools for in vitro modeling, reflecting in vivo organs and advancing our grasp of tissue physiology and disease. Concurrently, advanced imaging technologies such as confocal, light-sheet, and two-photon microscopy ignite fresh explorations, uncovering rich organoid information. Combined with advanced imaging technologies and the power of artificial intelligence, organoids provide new insights that bridge experimental models and real-world clinical scenarios. This review explores exemplary research that embodies this technological synergy and how organoids reshape personalized medicine and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihoon Ko
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Gyeonggi 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Sujin Hyung
- Precision Medicine Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunghun Cheong
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoojin Chung
- Division of Computer Engineering, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 17035, Republic of Korea
| | - Noo Li Jeon
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Qureator, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.
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8
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Spirig SE, Renner M. Toward Retinal Organoids in High-Throughput. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041275. [PMID: 37217280 PMCID: PMC10910359 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Human retinal organoids recapitulate the cellular diversity, arrangement, gene expression, and functional aspects of the human retina. Protocols to generate human retinal organoids from pluripotent stem cells are typically labor intensive, include many manual handling steps, and the organoids need to be maintained for several months until they mature. To generate large numbers of human retinal organoids for therapy development and screening purposes, scaling up retinal organoid production, maintenance, and analysis is of utmost importance. In this review, we discuss strategies to increase the number of high-quality retinal organoids while reducing manual handling steps. We further review different approaches to analyze thousands of retinal organoids with currently available technologies and point to challenges that still await to be overcome both in culture and analysis of retinal organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Erich Spirig
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Magdalena Renner
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Caruso L, Fields M, Rimondi E, Zauli G, Longo G, Marcuzzi A, Previati M, Gonelli A, Zauli E, Milani D. Classical and Innovative Evidence for Therapeutic Strategies in Retinal Dysfunctions. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2124. [PMID: 38396799 PMCID: PMC10889839 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The human retina is a complex anatomical structure that has no regenerative capacity. The pathogenesis of most retinopathies can be attributed to inflammation, with the activation of the inflammasome protein platform, and to the impact of oxidative stress on the regulation of apoptosis and autophagy/mitophagy in retinal cells. In recent years, new therapeutic approaches to treat retinopathies have been investigated. Experimental data suggest that the secretome of mesenchymal cells could reduce oxidative stress, autophagy, and the apoptosis of retinal cells, and in turn, the secretome of the latter could induce changes in mesenchymal cells. Other studies have evidenced that noncoding (nc)RNAs might be new targets for retinopathy treatment and novel disease biomarkers since a correlation has been found between ncRNA levels and retinopathies. A new field to explore is the interaction observed between the ocular and intestinal microbiota; indeed, recent findings have shown that the alteration of gut microbiota seems to be linked to ocular diseases, suggesting a gut-eye axis. To explore new therapeutical strategies for retinopathies, it is important to use proper models that can mimic the complexity of the retina. In this context, retinal organoids represent a good model for the study of the pathophysiology of the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Caruso
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (L.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Matteo Fields
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.F.); (G.L.); (A.M.); (M.P.); (D.M.)
| | - Erika Rimondi
- Department of Translational Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgio Zauli
- Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh 11462, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Giovanna Longo
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.F.); (G.L.); (A.M.); (M.P.); (D.M.)
| | - Annalisa Marcuzzi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.F.); (G.L.); (A.M.); (M.P.); (D.M.)
| | - Maurizio Previati
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.F.); (G.L.); (A.M.); (M.P.); (D.M.)
| | - Arianna Gonelli
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (L.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Enrico Zauli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.F.); (G.L.); (A.M.); (M.P.); (D.M.)
| | - Daniela Milani
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.F.); (G.L.); (A.M.); (M.P.); (D.M.)
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Sladen PE, Naeem A, Adefila-Ideozu T, Vermeule T, Busson SL, Michaelides M, Naylor S, Forbes A, Lane A, Georgiadis A. AAV-RPGR Gene Therapy Rescues Opsin Mislocalisation in a Human Retinal Organoid Model of RPGR-Associated X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1839. [PMID: 38339118 PMCID: PMC10855600 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Variants within the Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene are the predominant cause of X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP), a common and severe form of inherited retinal disease. XLRP is characterised by the progressive degeneration and loss of photoreceptors, leading to visual loss and, ultimately, bilateral blindness. Unfortunately, there are no effective approved treatments for RPGR-associated XLRP. We sought to investigate the efficacy of RPGRORF15 gene supplementation using a clinically relevant construct in human RPGR-deficient retinal organoids (ROs). Isogenic RPGR knockout (KO)-induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) were generated using established CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing methods targeting RPGR. RPGR-KO and isogenic wild-type IPSCs were differentiated into ROs and utilised to test the adeno associated virus (AAV) RPGR (AAV-RPGR) clinical vector construct. The transduction of RPGR-KO ROs using AAV-RPGR successfully restored RPGR mRNA and protein expression and localisation to the photoreceptor connecting cilium in rod and cone photoreceptors. Vector-derived RPGR demonstrated equivalent levels of glutamylation to WT ROs. In addition, treatment with AAV-RPGR restored rhodopsin localisation within RPGR-KO ROs, reducing mislocalisation to the photoreceptor outer nuclear layer. These data provide mechanistic insights into RPGRORF15 gene supplementation functional potency in human photoreceptor cells and support the previously reported Phase I/II trial positive results using this vector construct in patients with RPGR-associated XLRP, which is currently being tested in a Phase III clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E. Sladen
- MeiraGTx UK II, 34-38 Provost Street, London N1 7NG, UK (A.L.)
| | - Arifa Naeem
- MeiraGTx UK II, 34-38 Provost Street, London N1 7NG, UK (A.L.)
| | | | - Tijmen Vermeule
- MeiraGTx UK II, 34-38 Provost Street, London N1 7NG, UK (A.L.)
| | | | - Michel Michaelides
- MeiraGTx UK II, 34-38 Provost Street, London N1 7NG, UK (A.L.)
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9LF, UK
| | - Stuart Naylor
- MeiraGTx UK II, 34-38 Provost Street, London N1 7NG, UK (A.L.)
| | | | - Amelia Lane
- MeiraGTx UK II, 34-38 Provost Street, London N1 7NG, UK (A.L.)
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Bombieri C, Corsi A, Trabetti E, Ruggiero A, Marchetto G, Vattemi G, Valenti MT, Zipeto D, Romanelli MG. Advanced Cellular Models for Rare Disease Study: Exploring Neural, Muscle and Skeletal Organoids. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1014. [PMID: 38256087 PMCID: PMC10815694 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021014] [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] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Organoids are self-organized, three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells that can mimic the structure and physiology of human organs. Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and 3D organoid model systems allow cells to be analyzed in a controlled environment to simulate the characteristics of a given disease by modeling the underlying pathophysiology. The recent development of 3D cell models has offered the scientific community an exceptionally valuable tool in the study of rare diseases, overcoming the limited availability of biological samples and the limitations of animal models. This review provides an overview of iPSC models and genetic engineering techniques used to develop organoids. In particular, some of the models applied to the study of rare neuronal, muscular and skeletal diseases are described. Furthermore, the limitations and potential of developing new therapeutic approaches are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Donato Zipeto
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.B.); (A.C.); (E.T.); (A.R.); (G.M.); (G.V.); (M.T.V.)
| | - Maria Grazia Romanelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.B.); (A.C.); (E.T.); (A.R.); (G.M.); (G.V.); (M.T.V.)
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12
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Punetha M, Saini S, Chaudhary S, Yadav PS, Whitworth K, Green J, Kumar D, Kues WA. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in the Era of Precise Genome Editing. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 19:307-315. [PMID: 36880183 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x18666230307115326] [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] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Genome editing has enhanced our ability to understand the role of genetics in a number of diseases by facilitating the development of more precise cellular and animal models to study pathophysiological processes. These advances have shown extraordinary promise in a multitude of areas, from basic research to applied bioengineering and biomedical research. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are known for their high replicative capacity and are excellent targets for genetic manipulation as they can be clonally expanded from a single cell without compromising their pluripotency. Clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided nucleases have rapidly become the method of choice for gene editing due to their high specificity, simplicity, low cost, and versatility. Coupling the cellular versatility of iPSCs differentiation with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing technology can be an effective experimental technique for providing new insights into the therapeutic use of this technology. However, before using these techniques for gene therapy, their therapeutic safety and efficacy following models need to be assessed. In this review, we cover the remarkable progress that has been made in the use of genome editing tools in iPSCs, their applications in disease research and gene therapy as well as the hurdles that remain in the actual implementation of CRISPR/Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meeti Punetha
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, 125001, Haryana, India
| | - Sheetal Saini
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, 125001, Haryana, India
| | - Suman Chaudhary
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, 125001, Haryana, India
| | - Prem Singh Yadav
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, 125001, Haryana, India
| | - Kristin Whitworth
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Jonathan Green
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Dharmendra Kumar
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, 125001, Haryana, India
| | - Wilfried A Kues
- Department of Biotechnology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Höltystr 10, 31535, Neustadt, Germany
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13
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Pan D, Zhang X, Jin K, Jin ZB. CRX haploinsufficiency compromises photoreceptor precursor translocation and differentiation in human retinal organoids. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:346. [PMID: 38049871 PMCID: PMC10696917 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03590-3] [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] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The CRX-associated autosomal dominant retinopathies suggest a possible pathogenic mechanism of gene haploinsufficiency. However, based on reported human patient cases and studies with mouse models, it is hard to confirm the specific weight of haploinsufficiency in pathogenesis due to the interspecies gaps between gene expression and function. METHODS We created monoallelic CRX by replacing one allele with tdTomato in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and subsequently dissect pathogenesis in hESCs-derived retinal organoids. We used transcriptome and immunofluorescence analyses to dissect phenotypic differences between CRX-monoallelic knockout and control wildtype organoids. For location analysis of CRX+ cells, a CRX-expression-tracing system was constructed in control hESCs. We implemented long-term live-cell imaging to describe the translocation of CRX+ cells between two groups in early organoid differentiation. The expression pattern of these dynamic differences was validated using RNA-seq and immunofluorescence assays. RESULTS We identified delayed differentiation of outer nuclear layer (ONL) stratification along with thinner ONL, serious loss of photoreceptor outer segments, as well as downregulated expression of gene for phototransduction and inner/outer segment formation. By live-cell imaging and immunostaining, we observed the overtension of actomyosin network and the arrested translocation of monoallelic CRX+ cells in the early stage of retinal differentiation. CONCLUSIONS We confirmed that gene haploinsufficiency is the mechanism for the dominant pathogenicity of CRX and discovered that CRX regulated postmitotic photoreceptor precursor translocation in addition to its specification of photoreceptor cell fates during human retinal development. These findings revealed a new underlying mechanism of CRX dominant pathogenesis and provided a new clue for the treatment of CRX-associated human retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng Pan
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Kangxin Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
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14
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Liang Y, Sun X, Duan C, Tang S, Chen J. Application of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and organoids in inherited retinal diseases. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:340. [PMID: 38012786 PMCID: PMC10683306 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03564-5] [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] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) can induce severe sight-threatening retinal degeneration and impose a considerable economic burden on patients and society, making efforts to cure blindness imperative. Transgenic animals mimicking human genetic diseases have long been used as a primary research tool to decipher the underlying pathogenesis, but there are still some obvious limitations. As an alternative strategy, patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), particularly three-dimensional (3D) organoid technology, are considered a promising platform for modeling different forms of IRDs, including retinitis pigmentosa, Leber congenital amaurosis, X-linked recessive retinoschisis, Batten disease, achromatopsia, and best vitelliform macular dystrophy. Here, this paper focuses on the status of patient-derived iPSCs and organoids in IRDs in recent years concerning disease modeling and therapeutic exploration, along with potential challenges for translating laboratory research to clinical application. Finally, the importance of human iPSCs and organoids in combination with emerging technologies such as multi-omics integration analysis, 3D bioprinting, or microfluidic chip platform are highlighted. Patient-derived retinal organoids may be a preferred choice for more accurately uncovering the mechanisms of human retinal diseases and will contribute to clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqin Liang
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China
- Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Xihao Sun
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China
- Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Chunwen Duan
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China
- Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha, 410015, China
| | - Shibo Tang
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China.
- Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha, 410015, China.
| | - Jiansu Chen
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, 410015, China.
- Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Changsha, 410015, China.
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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15
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Kruczek K, Swaroop A. Patient stem cell-derived in vitro disease models for developing novel therapies of retinal ciliopathies. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 155:127-163. [PMID: 38043950 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.09.003] [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] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Primary cilia are specialized organelles on the surface of almost all cells in vertebrate tissues and are primarily involved in the detection of extracellular stimuli. In retinal photoreceptors, cilia are uniquely modified to form outer segments containing components required for the detection of light in stacks of membrane discs. Not surprisingly, vision impairment is a frequent phenotype associated with ciliopathies, a heterogeneous class of conditions caused by mutations in proteins required for formation, maintenance and/or function of primary cilia. Traditionally, immortalized cell lines and model organisms have been used to provide insights into the biology of ciliopathies. The advent of methods for reprogramming human somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells has enabled the generation of in vitro disease models directly from patients suffering from ciliopathies. Such models help us in investigating pathological mechanisms specific to human physiology and in developing novel therapeutic approaches. In this article, we review current protocols to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into retinal cell types, and discuss how these cellular and/or organoid models can be utilized to interrogate pathobiology of ciliopathies affecting the retina and for testing prospective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Kruczek
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
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16
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Lotfi M, Morshedi Rad D, Mashhadi SS, Ashouri A, Mojarrad M, Mozaffari-Jovin S, Farrokhi S, Hashemi M, Lotfi M, Ebrahimi Warkiani M, Abbaszadegan MR. Recent Advances in CRISPR/Cas9 Delivery Approaches for Therapeutic Gene Editing of Stem Cells. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2023; 19:2576-2596. [PMID: 37723364 PMCID: PMC10661828 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10585-3] [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: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Rapid advancement in genome editing technologies has provided new promises for treating neoplasia, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and monogenic disorders. Recently, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has emerged as a powerful gene editing tool offering advantages, including high editing efficiency and low cost over the conventional approaches. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), with their great proliferation and differentiation potential into different cell types, have been exploited in stem cell-based therapy. The potential of hPSCs and the capabilities of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has been paradigm-shifting in medical genetics for over two decades. Since hPSCs are categorized as hard-to-transfect cells, there is a critical demand to develop an appropriate and effective approach for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery into these cells. This review focuses on various strategies for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery in stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malihe Lotfi
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Dorsa Morshedi Rad
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Samaneh Sharif Mashhadi
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Atefeh Ashouri
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Mojarrad
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Sina Mozaffari-Jovin
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Shima Farrokhi
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Maryam Hashemi
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Marzieh Lotfi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
| | - Majid Ebrahimi Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD), Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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17
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Sanjurjo-Soriano C, Jimenez-Medina C, Erkilic N, Cappellino L, Lefevre A, Nagel-Wolfrum K, Wolfrum U, Van Wijk E, Roux AF, Meunier I, Kalatzis V. USH2A variants causing retinitis pigmentosa or Usher syndrome provoke differential retinal phenotypes in disease-specific organoids. HGG ADVANCES 2023; 4:100229. [PMID: 37654703 PMCID: PMC10465966 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2023.100229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an emblematic clinical and genetic heterogeneity associated with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). The most common form is retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a rod-cone dystrophy caused by pathogenic variants in over 80 different genes. Further complexifying diagnosis, different variants in individual RP genes can also alter the clinical phenotype. USH2A is the most prevalent gene for autosomal-recessive RP and one of the most challenging because of its large size and, hence, large number of variants. Moreover, USH2A variants give rise to non-syndromic and syndromic RP, known as Usher syndrome (USH) type 2, which is associated with vision and hearing loss. The lack of a clear genotype-phenotype correlation or prognostic models renders diagnosis highly challenging. We report here a long-awaited differential non-syndromic RP and USH phenotype in three human disease-specific models: fibroblasts, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and mature iPSC-derived retinal organoids. Moreover, we identified distinct retinal phenotypes in organoids from multiple RP and USH individuals, which were validated by isogenic-corrected controls. Non-syndromic RP organoids showed compromised photoreceptor differentiation, whereas USH organoids showed a striking and unexpected cone phenotype. Furthermore, complementary clinical investigations identified macular atrophy in a high proportion of USH compared with RP individuals, further validating our observations that USH2A variants differentially affect cones. Overall, identification of distinct non-syndromic RP and USH phenotypes in multiple models provides valuable and robust readouts for testing the pathogenicity of USH2A variants as well as the efficacy of therapeutic approaches in complementary cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Sanjurjo-Soriano
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Carla Jimenez-Medina
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Nejla Erkilic
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Luisina Cappellino
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Arnaud Lefevre
- National Reference Centre for Inherited Sensory Diseases, University of Montpellier, CHU, Montpellier, France
| | - Kerstin Nagel-Wolfrum
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Molecular Cell Biology, and Photoreceptor Cell Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Uwe Wolfrum
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Molecular Cell Biology, and Photoreceptor Cell Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Erwin Van Wijk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hearing, & Genes, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Anne-Françoise Roux
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, University of Montpellier, CHU, Montpellier, France
| | - Isabelle Meunier
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
- National Reference Centre for Inherited Sensory Diseases, University of Montpellier, CHU, Montpellier, France
| | - Vasiliki Kalatzis
- Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
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18
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Carido M, Völkner M, Steinheuer LM, Wagner F, Kurth T, Dumler N, Ulusoy S, Wieneke S, Norniella AV, Golfieri C, Khattak S, Schönfelder B, Scamozzi M, Zoschke K, Canzler S, Hackermüller J, Ader M, Karl MO. Reliability of human retina organoid generation from hiPSC-derived neuroepithelial cysts. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1166641. [PMID: 37868194 PMCID: PMC10587494 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1166641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The possible applications for human retinal organoids (HROs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) rely on the robustness and transferability of the methodology for their generation. Standardized strategies and parameters to effectively assess, compare, and optimize organoid protocols are starting to be established, but are not yet complete. To advance this, we explored the efficiency and reliability of a differentiation method, called CYST protocol, that facilitates retina generation by forming neuroepithelial cysts from hiPSC clusters. Here, we tested seven different hiPSC lines which reproducibly generated HROs. Histological and ultrastructural analyses indicate that HRO differentiation and maturation are regulated. The different hiPSC lines appeared to be a larger source of variance than experimental rounds. Although previous reports have shown that HROs in several other protocols contain a rather low number of cones, HROs from the CYST protocol are consistently richer in cones and with a comparable ratio of cones, rods, and Müller glia. To provide further insight into HRO cell composition, we studied single cell RNA sequencing data and applied CaSTLe, a transfer learning approach. Additionally, we devised a potential strategy to systematically evaluate different organoid protocols side-by-side through parallel differentiation from the same hiPSC batches: In an explorative study, the CYST protocol was compared to a conceptually different protocol based on the formation of cell aggregates from single hiPSCs. Comparing four hiPSC lines showed that both protocols reproduced key characteristics of retinal epithelial structure and cell composition, but the CYST protocol provided a higher HRO yield. So far, our data suggest that CYST-derived HROs remained stable up to at least day 200, while single hiPSC-derived HROs showed spontaneous pathologic changes by day 200. Overall, our data provide insights into the efficiency, reproducibility, and stability of the CYST protocol for generating HROs, which will be useful for further optimizing organoid systems, as well as for basic and translational research applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madalena Carido
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Manuela Völkner
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lisa Maria Steinheuer
- Department Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Felix Wagner
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technology Platform, Core Facility Electron Microscopy and Histology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Natalie Dumler
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Selen Ulusoy
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephanie Wieneke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Cristina Golfieri
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Shahryar Khattak
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Stem Cell Engineering Facility, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Bruno Schönfelder
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maria Scamozzi
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katja Zoschke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sebastian Canzler
- Department Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jörg Hackermüller
- Department Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marius Ader
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mike O Karl
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Chakrabarty K, Nayak D, Debnath J, Das D, Shetty R, Ghosh A. Retinal organoids in disease modeling and drug discovery: Opportunities and challenges. Surv Ophthalmol 2023:S0039-6257(23)00127-3. [PMID: 37778668 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Diseases leading to retinal cell loss can cause severe visual impairment and blindness. The lack of effective therapies to address retinal cell loss and the absence of intrinsic regeneration in the human retina leads to an irreversible pathological condition. Progress in recent years in the generation of human three-dimensional retinal organoids from pluripotent stem cells makes it possible to recreate the cytoarchitecture and associated cell-cell interactions of the human retina in remarkable detail. These human three-dimensional retinal organoid systems made of distinct retinal cell types and possessing contextual physiological responses allow the study of human retina development and retinal disease pathology in a way animal model and two-dimensional cell cultures were unable to achieve. We describe the derivation of retinal organoids from human pluripotent stem cells and their application for modeling retinal disease pathologies, while outlining the opportunities and challenges for its application in academia and industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koushik Chakrabarty
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
| | - Divyani Nayak
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Jayasree Debnath
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Debashish Das
- Stem Cell Research Lab, GROW Lab, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Rohit Shetty
- Department of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Narayana Nethralaya Eye Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Arkasubhra Ghosh
- GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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20
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Xu ZH, Zhang H, Zhang CJ, Yu SJ, Yuan J, Jin K, Jin ZB. REG1A protects retinal photoreceptors from blue light damage. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1527:60-74. [PMID: 37531162 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
With the increased use of artificial light and the prolonged use of optoelectronic products, light damage (LD) to the human retina has been identified as a global vision-threatening problem. While there is evidence of a significant correlation between light-induced retinal damage and age-related vision impairment in age-related macular degeneration, it is unclear how light-induced retinal degeneration manifests itself and whether there are agents capable of preventing the development of LD in the retina. This study investigated a mechanism by which blue light leads to photoreceptor death. By observing blue light exposure in retinal organoids and photoreceptor cells, we concluded that there could be significant apoptosis of the photoreceptors. We demonstrate that regenerating islet-derived 1 alpha (REG1A) prevents photoreceptors from undergoing this LD-induced apoptosis by increasing expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2 and downregulating expression of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax, resulting in reduced mitochondrial damage and improved aerobic capacity in photoreceptor cells. For the first time, REG1A has been shown to restore mitochondrial function and cell apoptosis after LD-induced damage, suggesting its potential application in the prevention and treatment of retinal vision loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Hua Xu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Chang-Jun Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Jian Yu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Kangxin Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
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21
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Jones MK, Orozco LD, Qin H, Truong T, Caplazi P, Elstrott J, Modrusan Z, Chaney SY, Jeanne M. Integration of human stem cell-derived in vitro systems and mouse preclinical models identifies complex pathophysiologic mechanisms in retinal dystrophy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1252547. [PMID: 37691820 PMCID: PMC10483287 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1252547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare DRAM2 coding variants cause retinal dystrophy with early macular involvement via unknown mechanisms. We found that DRAM2 is ubiquitously expressed in the human eye and expression changes were observed in eyes with more common maculopathy such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). To gain insights into pathogenicity of DRAM2-related retinopathy, we used a combination of in vitro and in vivo models. We found that DRAM2 loss in human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived retinal organoids caused the presence of additional mesenchymal cells. Interestingly, Dram2 loss in mice also caused increased proliferation of cells from the choroid in vitro and exacerbated choroidal neovascular lesions in vivo. Furthermore, we observed that DRAM2 loss in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells resulted in increased susceptibility to stress-induced cell death in vitro and that Dram2 loss in mice caused age-related photoreceptor degeneration. This highlights the complexity of DRAM2 function, as its loss in choroidal cells provided a proliferative advantage, whereas its loss in post-mitotic cells, such as photoreceptor and RPE cells, increased degeneration susceptibility. Different models such as human pluripotent stem cell-derived systems and mice can be leveraged to study and model human retinal dystrophies; however, cell type and species-specific expression must be taken into account when selecting relevant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa K. Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
- Product Development Clinical Science Ophthalmology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Luz D. Orozco
- Department of Bioinformatics, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Han Qin
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Tom Truong
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Patrick Caplazi
- Department of Research Pathology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Justin Elstrott
- Department of Translational Imaging, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Zora Modrusan
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, Lipidomics and Next-Generation Sequencing, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Shawnta Y. Chaney
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Marion Jeanne
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
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22
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Kaltak M, Blanco-Garavito R, Molday LL, Dhaenens CM, Souied EE, Platenburg G, Swildens J, Molday RS, Cremers FPM. Stargardt disease-associated in-frame ABCA4 exon 17 skipping results in significant ABCA4 function. J Transl Med 2023; 21:546. [PMID: 37587475 PMCID: PMC10428568 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04406-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND ABCA4, the gene implicated in Stargardt disease (STGD1), contains 50 exons, of which 17 contain multiples of three nucleotides. The impact of in-frame exon skipping is yet to be determined. Antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) have been investigated in Usher syndrome-associated genes to induce skipping of in-frame exons carrying severe variants and mitigate their disease-linked effect. Upon the identification of a STGD1 proband carrying a novel exon 17 canonical splice site variant, the activity of ABCA4 lacking 22 amino acids encoded by exon 17 was examined, followed by design of AONs able to induce exon 17 skipping. METHODS A STGD1 proband was compound heterozygous for the splice variant c.2653+1G>A, that was predicted to result in in-frame skipping of exon 17, and a null variant [c.735T>G, p.(Tyr245*)]. Clinical characteristics of this proband were studied using multi-modal imaging and complete ophthalmological examination. The aberrant splicing of c.2653+1G>A was investigated in vitro in HEK293T cells with wild-type and mutant midigenes. The residual activity of the mutant ABCA4 protein lacking Asp864-Gly885 encoded by exon 17 was analyzed with all-trans-retinal-activated ATPase activity assay, along with its subcellular localization. To induce exon 17 skipping, the effect of 40 AONs was examined in vitro in WT WERI-Rb-1 cells and 3D human retinal organoids. RESULTS Late onset STGD1 in the proband suggests that c.2653+1G>A does not have a fully deleterious effect. The in vitro splice assay confirmed that this variant leads to ABCA4 transcripts without exon 17. ABCA4 Asp864_Gly863del was stable and retained 58% all-trans-retinal-activated ATPase activity compared to WT ABCA4. This sequence is located in an unstructured linker region between transmembrane domain 6 and nucleotide-binding domain-1 of ABCA4. AONs were designed to possibly reduce pathogenicity of severe variants harbored in exon 17. The best AON achieved 59% of exon 17 skipping in retinal organoids. CONCLUSIONS Exon 17 deletion in ABCA4 does not result in the absence of protein activity and does not cause a severe STGD1 phenotype when in trans with a null allele. By applying AONs, the effect of severe variants in exon 17 can potentially be ameliorated by exon skipping, thus generating partial ABCA4 activity in STGD1 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melita Kaltak
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- ProQR Therapeutics, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rocio Blanco-Garavito
- Department of Ophthalmology, Intercommunal Hospital Center and Henri Mondor Hospital, Paris-Est Créteil University, Creteil, France
| | - Laurie L Molday
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Centre for Macular Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Claire-Marie Dhaenens
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172-LilNCog-Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Eric E Souied
- Department of Ophthalmology, Intercommunal Hospital Center and Henri Mondor Hospital, Paris-Est Créteil University, Creteil, France
| | | | | | - Robert S Molday
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Centre for Macular Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Frans P M Cremers
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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23
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Kang J, Gong J, Yang C, Lin X, Yan L, Gong Y, Xu H. Application of Human Stem Cell Derived Retinal Organoids in the Exploration of the Mechanisms of Early Retinal Development. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2023:10.1007/s12015-023-10553-x. [PMID: 37269529 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10553-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The intricate neural circuit of retina extracts salient features of the natural world and forms bioelectric impulse as the origin of vision. The early development of retina is a highly complex and coordinated process in morphogenesis and neurogenesis. Increasing evidence indicates that stem cells derived human retinal organoids (hROs) in vitro faithfully recapitulates the embryonic developmental process of human retina no matter in the transcriptome, cellular biology and histomorphology. The emergence of hROs greatly deepens on the understanding of early development of human retina. Here, we reviewed the events of early retinal development both in animal embryos and hROs studies, which mainly comprises the formation of optic vesicle and optic cup shape, differentiation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), photoreceptor cells (PRs) and its supportive retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE). We also discussed the classic and frontier molecular pathways up to date to decipher the underlying mechanisms of early development of human retina and hROs. Finally, we summarized the application prospect, challenges and cutting-edge techniques of hROs for uncovering the principles and mechanisms of retinal development and related developmental disorder. hROs is a priori selection for studying human retinal development and function and may be a fundamental tool for unlocking the unknown insight into retinal development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Kang
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jing Gong
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Cao Yang
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xi Lin
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Lijuan Yan
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yu Gong
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Sciences Research Center, University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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24
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Vandana JJ, Manrique C, Lacko LA, Chen S. Human pluripotent-stem-cell-derived organoids for drug discovery and evaluation. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:571-591. [PMID: 37146581 PMCID: PMC10775018 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and three-dimensional organoids have ushered in a new era for disease modeling and drug discovery. Over the past decade, significant progress has been in deriving functional organoids from hPSCs, which have been applied to recapitulate disease phenotypes. In addition, these advancements have extended the application of hPSCs and organoids for drug screening and clinical-trial safety evaluations. This review provides an overview of the achievements and challenges in using hPSC-derived organoids to conduct relevant high-throughput, high-contentscreens and drug evaluation. These studies have greatly enhanced our knowledge and toolbox for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Jeya Vandana
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Center for Genomic Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, The Rockefeller University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cassandra Manrique
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauretta A Lacko
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Shuibing Chen
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Center for Genomic Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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25
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Yu J, Yin Y, Leng Y, Zhang J, Wang C, Chen Y, Li X, Wang X, Liu H, Liao Y, Jin Y, Zhang Y, Lu K, Wang K, Wang X, Wang L, Zheng F, Gu Z, Li Y, Fan Y. Emerging strategies of engineering retinal organoids and organoid-on-a-chip in modeling intraocular drug delivery: current progress and future perspectives. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 197:114842. [PMID: 37105398 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Retinal diseases are a rising concern as major causes of blindness in an aging society; therapeutic options are limited, and the precise pathogenesis of these diseases remains largely unknown. Intraocular drug delivery and nanomedicines offering targeted, sustained, and controllable delivery are the most challenging and popular topics in ocular drug development and toxicological evaluation. Retinal organoids (ROs) and organoid-on-a-chip (ROoC) are both emerging as promising in-vitro models to faithfully recapitulate human eyes for retinal research in the replacement of experimental animals and primary cells. In this study, we review the generation and application of ROs resembling the human retina in cell subtypes and laminated structures and introduce the emerging engineered ROoC as a technological opportunity to address critical issues. On-chip vascularization, perfusion, and close inter-tissue interactions recreate physiological environments in vitro, whilst integrating with biosensors facilitates real-time analysis and monitoring during organogenesis of the retina representing engineering efforts in ROoC models. We also emphasize that ROs and ROoCs hold the potential for applications in modeling intraocular drug delivery in vitro and developing next-generation retinal drug delivery strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaheng Yu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yuqi Yin
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yubing Leng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jingcheng Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Yanyun Chen
- Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Xiaorui Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xudong Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yulong Liao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yishan Jin
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yihan Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Keyu Lu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Kehao Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China; Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China; Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Lizhen Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China; Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Fuyin Zheng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China; Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Zhongze Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Yinghui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
| | - Yubo Fan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, and with the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China; Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China.
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26
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Chen Y, Meng L, Lang B, Li L, Liu J, Wang Y, Huang Z, Tian X, Tian R, Hu Z. A Cas12a ortholog with distinct TTNA PAM enables sensitive detection of HPV16/18. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100444. [PMID: 37159673 PMCID: PMC10162949 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-associated (Cas) nucleases are multifunctional tools for gene editing. Cas12a possesses several advantages, including the requirement of a single guide RNA and high fidelity of gene editing. Here, we tested three Cas12a orthologs from human gut samples and identified a LtCas12a that utilizes a TTNA protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) distinct from the canonical TTTV PAM but with equivalent cleavage ability and specificity. These features significantly broadened the targeting scope of Cas12a family. Furthermore, we developed a sensitive, accurate, and rapid human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 gene detection platform based on LtCas12a DNA endonuclease-targeted CRISPR trans reporter (DETECTR) and lateral flow assay (LFA). LtCas12a showed comparable sensitivity to quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and no cross-reaction with 13 other high-risk HPV genotypes in detecting the HPV16/18 L1 gene. Taken together, LtCas12a can broaden the applications of the CRISPR-Cas12a family and serve as a promising next-generation tool for therapeutic application and molecular diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Chen
- Sun Yat-sen University Nanchang Research Institution, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330200, China
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Lirong Meng
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao 999078, China
| | - Bin Lang
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao 999078, China
- Peking University Health Science Center-Macao Polytechnic University Nursing Academy, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao 999078, China
| | - Lifang Li
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Jiashuo Liu
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Yuyan Wang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Zheying Huang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Xun Tian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academician Expert Workstation, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Rui Tian
- Generulor Company Bio-X Lab, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Zheng Hu
- Sun Yat-sen University Nanchang Research Institution, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330200, China
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Donghu 169th Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei 430062, China
- Corresponding author
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27
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Zhang Z, Wang X, Park S, Song H, Ming GL. Development and Application of Brain Region-Specific Organoids for Investigating Psychiatric Disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:594-605. [PMID: 36759261 PMCID: PMC9998354 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Human society has been burdened by psychiatric disorders throughout the course of its history. The emergence and rapid advances of human brain organoid technology provide unprecedented opportunities for investigation of potential disease mechanisms and development of targeted or even personalized treatments for various psychiatric disorders. In this review, we summarize recent advances for generating organoids from human pluripotent stem cells to model distinct brain regions and diverse cell types. We also highlight recent progress, discuss limitations, and propose potential improvements in using patient-derived or genetically engineered brain region-specific organoids for investigating various psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijian Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sean Park
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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28
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Khamis ZI, Sarker DB, Xue Y, Al-Akkary N, James VD, Zeng C, Li Y, Sang QXA. Modeling Human Brain Tumors and the Microenvironment Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041253. [PMID: 36831595 PMCID: PMC9954701 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain cancer is a group of diverse and rapidly growing malignancies that originate in the central nervous system (CNS) and have a poor prognosis. The complexity of brain structure and function makes brain cancer modeling extremely difficult, limiting pathological studies and therapeutic developments. Advancements in human pluripotent stem cell technology have opened a window of opportunity for brain cancer modeling, providing a wealth of customizable methods to simulate the disease in vitro. This is achieved with the advent of genome editing and genetic engineering technologies that can simulate germline and somatic mutations found in human brain tumors. This review investigates induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based approaches to model human brain cancer. The applications of iPSCs as renewable sources of individual brain cell types, brain organoids, blood-brain barrier (BBB), and brain tumor models are discussed. The brain tumor models reviewed are glioblastoma and medulloblastoma. The iPSC-derived isogenic cells and three-dimensional (3D) brain cancer organoids combined with patient-derived xenografts will enhance future compound screening and drug development for these deadly human brain cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahraa I. Khamis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
- Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
- High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Molecular Immunology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences-I, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Drishty B. Sarker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Yu Xue
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Nancy Al-Akkary
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Molecular Immunology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences-I, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Viviana D. James
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Changchun Zeng
- Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
- High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Qing-Xiang Amy Sang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-850-644-8683; Fax: +1-850-644-8281
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29
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Chichagova V, Georgiou M, Carter M, Dorgau B, Hilgen G, Collin J, Queen R, Chung G, Ajeian J, Moya‐Molina M, Kustermann S, Pognan F, Hewitt P, Schmitt M, Sernagor E, Armstrong L, Lako M. Incorporating microglia-like cells in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids. J Cell Mol Med 2023; 27:435-445. [PMID: 36644817 PMCID: PMC9889627 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the primary resident immune cells in the retina. They regulate neuronal survival and synaptic pruning making them essential for normal development. Following injury, they mediate adaptive responses and under pathological conditions they can trigger neurodegeneration exacerbating the effect of a disease. Retinal organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are increasingly being used for a range of applications, including disease modelling, development of new therapies and in the study of retinogenesis. Despite many similarities to the retinas developed in vivo, they lack some key physiological features, including immune cells. We engineered an hiPSC co-culture system containing retinal organoids and microglia-like (iMG) cells and tested their retinal invasion capacity and function. We incorporated iMG into retinal organoids at 13 weeks and tested their effect on function and development at 15 and 22 weeks of differentiation. Our key findings showed that iMG cells were able to respond to endotoxin challenge in monocultures and when co-cultured with the organoids. We show that retinal organoids developed normally and retained their ability to generate spiking activity in response to light. Thus, this new co-culture immunocompetent in vitro retinal model provides a platform with greater relevance to the in vivo human retina.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Georgiou
- Biosciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | | | - Birthe Dorgau
- Newcells BiotechNewcastle upon TyneUK
- Biosciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Gerrit Hilgen
- Biosciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
- Applied SciencesNorthumbria UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Joseph Collin
- Biosciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Rachel Queen
- Biosciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Git Chung
- Newcells BiotechNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | | | - Marina Moya‐Molina
- Newcells BiotechNewcastle upon TyneUK
- Biosciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Lyle Armstrong
- Newcells BiotechNewcastle upon TyneUK
- Biosciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Biosciences InstituteNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
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30
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Völkner M, Wagner F, Kurth T, Sykes AM, Del Toro Runzer C, Ebner LJA, Kavak C, Alexaki VI, Cimalla P, Mehner M, Koch E, Karl MO. Modeling inducible neuropathologies of the retina with differential phenotypes in organoids. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1106287. [PMID: 37213216 PMCID: PMC10196395 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1106287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases remain incompletely understood and therapies are needed. Stem cell-derived organoid models facilitate fundamental and translational medicine research. However, to which extent differential neuronal and glial pathologic processes can be reproduced in current systems is still unclear. Here, we tested 16 different chemical, physical, and cell functional manipulations in mouse retina organoids to further explore this. Some of the treatments induce differential phenotypes, indicating that organoids are competent to reproduce distinct pathologic processes. Notably, mouse retina organoids even reproduce a complex pathology phenotype with combined photoreceptor neurodegeneration and glial pathologies upon combined (not single) application of HBEGF and TNF, two factors previously associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Pharmacological inhibitors for MAPK signaling completely prevent photoreceptor and glial pathologies, while inhibitors for Rho/ROCK, NFkB, and CDK4 differentially affect them. In conclusion, mouse retina organoids facilitate reproduction of distinct and complex pathologies, mechanistic access, insights for further organoid optimization, and modeling of differential phenotypes for future applications in fundamental and translational medicine research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Völkner
- Technische Universität Dresden, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Felix Wagner
- Technische Universität Dresden, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- Technische Universität Dresden, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technology Platform Core Facility Electron Microscopy and Histology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alex M. Sykes
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Lynn J. A. Ebner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Cagri Kavak
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
| | - Vasileia Ismini Alexaki
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter Cimalla
- Technische Universität Dresden, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mirko Mehner
- Technische Universität Dresden, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Dresden, Germany
| | - Edmund Koch
- Technische Universität Dresden, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Clinical Sensoring and Monitoring, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mike O. Karl
- Technische Universität Dresden, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
- *Correspondence: Mike O. Karl, ,
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31
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Kumar A, Cai S, Allam M, Henderson S, Ozbeyler M, Saiontz L, Coskun AF. Single-Cell and Spatial Analysis of Emergent Organoid Platforms. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2660:311-344. [PMID: 37191807 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3163-8_22] [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: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Organoids have emerged as a promising advancement of the two-dimensional (2D) culture systems to improve studies in organogenesis, drug discovery, precision medicine, and regenerative medicine applications. Organoids can self-organize as three-dimensional (3D) tissues derived from stem cells and patient tissues to resemble organs. This chapter presents growth strategies, molecular screening methods, and emerging issues of the organoid platforms. Single-cell and spatial analysis resolve organoid heterogeneity to obtain information about the structural and molecular cellular states. Culture media diversity and varying lab-to-lab practices have resulted in organoid-to-organoid variability in morphology and cell compositions. An essential resource is an organoid atlas that can catalog protocols and standardize data analysis for different organoid types. Molecular profiling of individual cells in organoids and data organization of the organoid landscape will impact biomedical applications from basic science to translational use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Kumar
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shuangyi Cai
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mayar Allam
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Samuel Henderson
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Melissa Ozbeyler
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lilly Saiontz
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ahmet F Coskun
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Interdisciplinary Bioengineering Graduate Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, , Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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32
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Shen W, Shao A, Zhou W, Lou L, Grzybowski A, Jin K, Ye J. Retinogenesis in a Dish: Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of Retinal Organoids From 2011 to 2022. Cell Transplant 2023; 32:9636897231214321. [PMID: 38044501 PMCID: PMC10695087 DOI: 10.1177/09636897231214321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal organoid (RO) is the three-dimensional (3D) retinal culture derived from pluripotent or embryonic stem cells which recapitulates organ functions, which was a revolutionary milestone in stem cell technology. The purpose of this study is to explore the hotspots and future directions on ROs, as well as to better understand the fields of greatest research opportunities. Eligible publications related to RO from 2011 to 2022 were acquired from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database. Bibliometric analysis was performed by using software including VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and ArcGIS. A total of 520 articles were included, and the number of annual publications showed a rapid increase with an average rate of 40.86%. The United States published the most articles (241/520, 46.35%) with highest total citation frequencies (5,344). University College London (UK) contributed the largest publication output (40/520, 7.69%) and received highest total citation frequencies. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science was the most productive journal with 129 articles. Majlinda Lako contributed the most research with 32 articles, while Olivier Goureau has the strongest collaboration work. Research could be subdivided into four keyword clusters: "culture and differentiation," "morphogenesis and modeling," "gene therapy," and "transplantation and visual restoration," and evolution of keywords was identified. Last decade has witnessed the huge progress in the field of RO, which is a young and promising research area with extensive and in-depth studies. More attention should be paid to RO-related models and therapies based on specific retinal diseases, especially inherited retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyue Shen
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - An Shao
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wuyuan Zhou
- Zhejiang Academy of Science and Technology Information, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lixia Lou
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Andrzej Grzybowski
- Institute for Research in Ophthalmology, Foundation for Ophthalmology Development, Poznan, Poland
| | - Kai Jin
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Juan Ye
- Eye Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, Hangzhou, China
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Kandoi S, Lamba DA. Retinal Organoids: A Human Model System for Development, Diseases, and Therapies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1415:549-554. [PMID: 37440085 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) encompasses a group of heterogeneous disorders causing debilitating visual diseases and blindness, affecting more than two million people worldwide, in all age groups. The inheritance patterns vary from autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked, and sporadic with mutations in over 260 genes identified to date. Despite the significant advances in clinical diagnosis, there is no effective treatment available. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) derived in vitro 3D retinal organoids offer a powerful preclinical tool to investigate the molecular mechanism(s) of inherited diseases. Organoids have the potential for the development of personalized therapies by modeling the disease-specific and patient-specific IRD. This mini-review will elaborate on the utility of the advanced culture model system by focusing on staging the in vitro human retinogenesis, modeling retinal diseases, and as a tool for testing potential therapeutic approaches to restore or prevent vision loss in affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeetha Kandoi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Deepak A Lamba
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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34
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Generation of Human iPSC-Derived Retinal Organoids for Assessment of AAV-Mediated Gene Delivery. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2560:287-302. [PMID: 36481905 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2651-1_27] [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
Human retinal organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) serve as a promising preclinical model for testing the safety and efficacy of viral gene therapy. Retinal organoids recapitulate the stratified multilayered epithelium structure of the developing and maturating human retina. As such, retinal organoids are unique tools to model retinal disease and to test therapeutic interventions toward their amelioration. Here, we describe a method for the generation of human iPSC-derived retinal organoids and how they can be utilized for the assessment of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV)-mediated gene delivery.
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35
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Wang Y, Sun Y. Engineered organoids in oral and maxillofacial regeneration. iScience 2022; 26:105757. [PMID: 36590157 PMCID: PMC9800253 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral and maxillofacial organoids, as three-dimensional study models of organs, have attracted increasing attention in tissue regeneration and disease modeling. However, traditional strategies for organoid construction still fail to precisely recapitulate the key characteristics of real organs, due to the difficulty in controlling the self-organization of cells in vitro. This review aims to summarize the recent progress of novel approaches to engineering oral and maxillofacial organoids. First, we introduced the necessary components and their roles in forming oral and maxillofacial organoids. Besides, we discussed cutting-edge technology in advancing the architecture and function of organoids, especially focusing on oral and maxillofacial tissue regeneration via novel strategy with designed cell-signal scaffold compounds. Finally, current limitations and future prospects of oral and maxillofacial organoids were represented to provide guidance for further disciplinary progression and clinical application to achieve organ regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Department of Implantology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Tongji University Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Tooth Restoration and Regeneration, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Yao Sun
- Department of Implantology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Tongji University Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Tooth Restoration and Regeneration, Shanghai 200040, China,Corresponding author
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36
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Chien Y, Hsiao YJ, Chou SJ, Lin TY, Yarmishyn AA, Lai WY, Lee MS, Lin YY, Lin TW, Hwang DK, Lin TC, Chiou SH, Chen SJ, Yang YP. Nanoparticles-mediated CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy in inherited retinal diseases: applications, challenges, and emerging opportunities. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:511. [DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01717-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractInherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs) are considered one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. However, the majority of them still lack a safe and effective treatment due to their complexity and genetic heterogeneity. Recently, gene therapy is gaining importance as an efficient strategy to address IRDs which were previously considered incurable. The development of the clustered regularly-interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has strongly empowered the field of gene therapy. However, successful gene modifications rely on the efficient delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 components into the complex three-dimensional (3D) architecture of the human retinal tissue. Intriguing findings in the field of nanoparticles (NPs) meet all the criteria required for CRISPR-Cas9 delivery and have made a great contribution toward its therapeutic applications. In addition, exploiting induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology and in vitro 3D retinal organoids paved the way for prospective clinical trials of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in treating IRDs. This review highlights important advances in NP-based gene therapy, the CRISPR-Cas9 system, and iPSC-derived retinal organoids with a focus on IRDs. Collectively, these studies establish a multidisciplinary approach by integrating nanomedicine and stem cell technologies and demonstrate the utility of retina organoids in developing effective therapies for IRDs.
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37
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Onyak JR, Vergara MN, Renna JM. Retinal organoid light responsivity: current status and future opportunities. Transl Res 2022; 250:98-111. [PMID: 35690342 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The ability to generate human retinas in vitro from pluripotent stem cells opened unprecedented opportunities for basic science and for the development of therapeutic approaches for retinal degenerative diseases. Retinal organoid models not only mimic the histoarchitecture and cellular composition of the native retina, but they can achieve a remarkable level of maturation that allows them to respond to light stimulation. However, studies evaluating the nature, magnitude, and properties of light-evoked responsivity from each cell type, in each retinal organoid layer, have been sparse. In this review we discuss the current understanding of retinal organoid function, the technologies used for functional assessment in human retinal organoids, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Natalia Vergara
- CellSight Ocular Stem Cell and Regeneration Program, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.
| | - Jordan M Renna
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio.
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38
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Arthur P, Muok L, Nathani A, Zeng EZ, Sun L, Li Y, Singh M. Bioengineering Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Organoids and Optic Vesicle-Containing Brain Organoids for Ocular Diseases. Cells 2022; 11:3429. [PMID: 36359825 PMCID: PMC9653705 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal organoids are three-dimensional (3D) structures derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) that mimic the retina's spatial and temporal differentiation, making them useful as in vitro retinal development models. Retinal organoids can be assembled with brain organoids, the 3D self-assembled aggregates derived from hPSCs containing different cell types and cytoarchitectures that resemble the human embryonic brain. Recent studies have shown the development of optic cups in brain organoids. The cellular components of a developing optic vesicle-containing organoids include primitive corneal epithelial and lens-like cells, retinal pigment epithelia, retinal progenitor cells, axon-like projections, and electrically active neuronal networks. The importance of retinal organoids in ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt disease, retinitis pigmentosa, and diabetic retinopathy are described in this review. This review highlights current developments in retinal organoid techniques, and their applications in ocular conditions such as disease modeling, gene therapy, drug screening and development. In addition, recent advancements in utilizing extracellular vesicles secreted by retinal organoids for ocular disease treatments are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peggy Arthur
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
| | - Laureana Muok
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Aakash Nathani
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
| | - Eric Z. Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Mandip Singh
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
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Sanjurjo-Soriano C, Erkilic N, Damodar K, Boukhaddaoui H, Diakatou M, Garita-Hernandez M, Mamaeva D, Dubois G, Jazouli Z, Jimenez-Medina C, Goureau O, Meunier I, Kalatzis V. Retinoic acid delays initial photoreceptor differentiation and results in a highly structured mature retinal organoid. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:478. [PMID: 36114559 PMCID: PMC9482314 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-03146-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids are a valuable tool for disease modelling and therapeutic development. Many efforts have been made over the last decade to optimise protocols for the generation of organoids that correctly mimic the human retina. Most protocols use common media supplements; however, protocol-dependent variability impacts data interpretation. To date, the lack of a systematic comparison of a given protocol with or without supplements makes it difficult to determine how they influence the differentiation process and morphology of the retinal organoids. Methods A 2D-3D differentiation method was used to generate retinal organoids, which were cultured with or without the most commonly used media supplements, notably retinoic acid. Gene expression was assayed using qPCR analysis, protein expression using immunofluorescence studies, ultrastructure using electron microscopy and 3D morphology using confocal and biphoton microscopy of whole organoids. Results Retinoic acid delayed the initial stages of differentiation by modulating photoreceptor gene expression. At later stages, the presence of retinoic acid led to the generation of mature retinal organoids with a well-structured stratified photoreceptor layer containing a predominant rod population. By contrast, the absence of retinoic acid led to cone-rich organoids with a less organised and non-stratified photoreceptor layer. Conclusions This study proves the importance of supplemented media for culturing retinal organoids. More importantly, we demonstrate for the first time that the role of retinoic acid goes beyond inducing a rod cell fate to enhancing the organisation of the photoreceptor layer of the mature organoid. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-03146-x.
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40
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Su T, Liang L, Zhang L, Wang J, Chen L, Su C, Cao J, Yu Q, Deng S, Chan HF, Tang S, Guo Y, Chen J. Retinal organoids and microfluidic chip-based approaches to explore the retinitis pigmentosa with USH2A mutations. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:939774. [PMID: 36185441 PMCID: PMC9524156 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.939774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness worldwide, with limited medical treatment options. USH2A mutations are one of the most common causes of non-syndromic RP. In this study, we developed retinal organoids (ROs) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of RP patient to establish a sustainable in vitro RP disease model. RT-qPCR, western blot, and immunofluorescent staining assessments showed that USH2A mutations induced apoptosis of iPSCs and ROs, and deficiency of the extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Transcriptomics and proteomics findings suggested that abnormal ECM-receptor interactions could result in apoptosis of ROs with USH2A mutations via the PI3K-Akt pathway. To optimize the culture conditions of ROs, we fabricated a microfluidic chip to co-culture the ROs with RPE cells. Our results showed that this perfusion system could efficiently improve the survival rate of ROs. Further, ECM components such as laminin and collagen IV of ROs in the RP group were upregulated compared with those maintained in static culture. These findings illustrate the potential of microfluidic chip combined with ROs technology in disease modelling for RP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Su
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liying Liang
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianing Wang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luyin Chen
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Caiying Su
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jixing Cao
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Quan Yu
- Centric Laboratory, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuai Deng
- Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Education of China, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hon Fai Chan
- Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Education of China, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Yonglong Guo
- Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jiansu Chen, ; Yonglong Guo,
| | - Jiansu Chen
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Aier Eye Institute, Changsha, China
- Institute of Ophthalmology, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jiansu Chen, ; Yonglong Guo,
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41
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Li YP, Wang YT, Wang W, Zhang X, Shen RJ, Jin K, Jin LW, Jin ZB. Second hit impels oncogenesis of retinoblastoma in patient-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids: direct evidence for Knudson's theory. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac162. [PMID: 36714839 PMCID: PMC9802398 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Retinoblastoma (Rb) is a type of malignant tumor due to abnormal retinogenesis with biallelic mutations of the RB1 gene. Its pathogenesis has been proposed as a "two-mutation hypothesis" by Knudson since 1971; however, there remain some debates on disease onset sufficiency of the biallelic RB1 mutations. To obtain straightforward evidence for this hypothesis, we investigated whether two-hit mutations of the RB1 gene drive tumorigenesis in patient-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived human retinal organoids (hROs) and whether single allelic mutation hiPSC-derived hROs exhibit molecular and cellular defects. We generated hiPSCs with a heterozygous germline mutation (RB1m1/ wt ) from a Rb patient. A second-allele RB1 gene mutation was knocked in to produce compound heterozygous mutations (RB1m1/m2 ) in the hiPSCs. These two hiPSC lines were independently developed into hROs through a stepwise differentiation. The hiPSC-RB1m1/m2 derived organoids demonstrated tumorigenesis in dishes, consistent with Rb profiles in spatiotemporal transcriptomes, in which developmentally photoreceptor fate-determining markers, CRX and OTX2, were highly expressed in hiPSC-RB1m1/m2 derived hROs. Additionally, ARR3+ maturing cone precursors were co-labeled with proliferative markers Ki67 or PCNA, in agreement with the consensus that human Rb is originated from maturing cone precursors. Finally, we demonstrated that retinal cells of hROs with monoallelic RB1 mutation were abnormal in molecular aspects due to its haploinsufficiency. In conclusion, this study provides straightforward supporting evidence in a way of reverse genetics for "two-hit hypothesis" in the Rb tumorigenesis and opens new avenues for development of early intervention and treatment of Rb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ping Li
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Ya-Ting Wang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Wen Wang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Ren-Juan Shen
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Kangxin Jin
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Li-Wen Jin
- Quanzhou Aier Eye Hospital, Quanzhou 362017, China
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Modeling PRPF31 retinitis pigmentosa using retinal pigment epithelium and organoids combined with gene augmentation rescue. NPJ Regen Med 2022; 7:39. [PMID: 35974011 PMCID: PMC9381579 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-022-00235-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the ubiquitously expressed pre-mRNA processing factor (PRPF) 31 gene, one of the most common causes of dominant form of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), lead to a retina-specific phenotype. It is uncertain which retinal cell types are affected and animal models do not clearly present the RP phenotype observed in PRPF31 patients. Retinal organoids and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide potential opportunities for studying human PRPF31-related RP. We demonstrate here that RPE cells carrying PRPF31 mutations present important morphological and functional changes and that PRPF31-mutated retinal organoids recapitulate the human RP phenotype, with a rod photoreceptor cell death followed by a loss of cones. The low level of PRPF31 expression may explain the defective phenotypes of PRPF31-mutated RPE and photoreceptor cells, which were not observed in cells derived from asymptomatic patients or after correction of the pathogenic mutation by CRISPR/Cas9. Transcriptome profiles revealed differentially expressed and mis-spliced genes belonging to pathways in line with the observed defective phenotypes. The rescue of RPE and photoreceptor defective phenotypes by PRPF31 gene augmentation provide the proof of concept for future therapeutic strategies.
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43
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Dai X, Wang X, Yang C, Huang M, Zhou Z, Qu Y, Cui X, Liu R, Chen C. Human fibroblasts facilitate the generation of iPSCs-derived mammary-like organoids. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:377. [PMID: 35902878 PMCID: PMC9330643 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-03023-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide, and its treatment largely depends on mastectomy. Patients after mastectomy suffer from crippled body image, self-esteem, and quality of life. Post-mastectomy breast reconstruction can improve patients’ psychosocial health. Although silicone and fat have been widely used for breast reconstruction, they have remarkable limitations. Our study aimed to establish an improved method for breast reconstruction from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Methods We used a two-step procedure to induce mammary-like organoids (MLOs) from iPSCs and applied transcriptome sequencing to analyze the gene expression profiles during the development process from embryoid bodies (mEBs) to MLOs. Moreover, we evaluated the in vitro effect of fibroblasts cell line HFF (human foreskin fibroblasts) on the size and morphology of MLOs and explored the in vivo effect of HFF on regeneration rate of MLOs. Results MLOs had a similar gene expression profile and morphogenesis as the normal mammary glands. Furthermore, the addition of HFF increases the branching ratio and organoid diameters and facilitates the formation of multiple cell layers duct-like structures in MLOs in vitro. Finally, orthotopical transplantation of the MLOs to cleared mammary gland fad pad of NSG mice showed that HFF increases the formation of mammary gland-like structures. Conclusions Fibroblasts facilitate iPSC-derived MLOs to generate mammary gland-like structures in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Our findings lay a foundation for breast reconstruction by using iPSCs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-03023-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Dai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Xinye Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Chuanyu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Maobo Huang
- Biomedical Research Center, The First Hospital of Kunming (The Affiliated Calmette Hospital of Kunming Medical University), Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Zhongmei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Ying Qu
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Davis Building 2065, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Xiaojiang Cui
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Davis Building 2065, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Rong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China. .,Translational Cancer Research Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
| | - Ceshi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.
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44
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Provin N, Giraud M. Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Into Thymic Epithelial Cells and Generation of Thymic Organoids: Applications for Therapeutic Strategies Against APECED. Front Immunol 2022; 13:930963. [PMID: 35844523 PMCID: PMC9277542 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.930963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ essential for the induction of central immune tolerance. Maturing T cells undergo several steps of expansion and selection mediated by thymic epithelial cells (TECs). In APECED and other congenital pathologies, a deficiency in genes that regulate TEC development or their ability to select non auto-reactive thymocytes results in a defective immune balance, and consequently in a general autoimmune syndrome. Restoration of thymic function is thus crucial for the emergence of curative treatments. The last decade has seen remarkable progress in both gene editing and pluripotent stem cell differentiation, with the emergence of CRISPR-based gene correction, the trivialization of reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSc) and their subsequent differentiation into multiple cellular fates. The combination of these two approaches has paved the way to the generation of genetically corrected thymic organoids and their use to control thymic genetic pathologies affecting self-tolerance. Here we review the recent advances in differentiation of iPSc into TECs and the ability of the latter to support a proper and efficient maturation of thymocytes into functional and non-autoreactive T cells. A special focus is given on thymus organogenesis and pathway modulation during iPSc differentiation, on the impact of the 2/3D structure on the generated TECs, and on perspectives for therapeutic strategies in APECED based on patient-derived iPSc corrected for AIRE gene mutations.
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45
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Regent F, Batz Z, Kelley RA, Gieser L, Swaroop A, Chen HY, Li T. Nicotinamide Promotes Formation of Retinal Organoids From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells via Enhanced Neural Cell Fate Commitment. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:878351. [PMID: 35783089 PMCID: PMC9247291 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.878351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal organoids (ROs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) recapitulate key features of retinogenesis and provide a promising platform to study retinal development and disease in a human context. Although multiple protocols are currently in use, hPSCs exhibit tremendous variability in differentiation efficiency, with some cell lines consistently yielding few or even no ROs, limiting their utility in research. We report here that early nicotinamide (NAM) treatment significantly improves RO yield across 8 hPSC lines from different donors, including some that would otherwise fail to generate a meaningful number of ROs. NAM treatment promotes neural commitment of hPSCs at the expense of non-neural ectodermal cell fate, which in turn increases eye field progenitor generation. Further analysis suggests that this effect is partially mediated through inhibition of BMP signaling. Our data encourage a broader use of human ROs for disease modeling applications that require the use of multiple patient-specific cell lines.
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Functional microglia derived from human pluripotent stem cells empower retinal organ. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 65:1057-1071. [PMID: 35451725 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-021-2086-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Microglia are known to play essential roles in the development, progression and treatment of diverse neurodegenerative diseases in the central nervous system, including the retina, brain and spinal cord. Recently, brain-induced microglia-like cells (iMGs) have been generated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs); however, retinal microglia have yet to be developed in vitro. In this study, by mimicking in vivo microglial development, we established a simplified approach to differentiate hPSCs into high purity (>90%) iMGs. The iMGs express microglia-specific markers, release cytokines upon stimulation, and are capable of phagocytizing bacteria. When co-cultured with three-dimensional human retinal organoids (hROs), iMGs migrated into the hROs, tended to differentiate into resident retinal microglia, and simultaneously induced apoptosis in some neural cells. Notably, the resident iMGs in the hROs formed sparse web-like structures beneath the photoreceptor cell layer, resembling microglia's orientation in human retina. In conclusion, we developed a simplified and efficient method to generate microglia from human pluripotent stem cells, and we report the first derivation of retinaresident microglia in vitro, providing a new source of human retinal microglia for developmental and disease studies and regenerative therapeutics.
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47
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McClements ME, Steward H, Atkin W, Goode EA, Gándara C, Chichagova V, MacLaren RE. Tropism of AAV Vectors in Photoreceptor-Like Cells of Human iPSC-Derived Retinal Organoids. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2022; 11:3. [PMID: 35377942 PMCID: PMC8994202 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.11.4.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To expand the use of human retinal organoids from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as an in vitro model of the retina for assessing gene therapy treatments, it is essential to establish efficient transduction. To date, targeted transduction of the photoreceptor-like cells of retinal organoids with adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors has had varied degrees of success, which we have looked to improve in this study. Methods Retinal organoids were differentiated from iPSCs of healthy donors and transduced with reporter AAV containing a CAG.GFP, CAG.RFP, GRK1.GFP, or EFS.GFP transgene. Capsid variants assessed were AAV5, AAV2 7m8, AAV2 quad mutant, AAV2 Y444F, and AAV8 Y733F. At 27 days post-transduction, retinal organoids were assessed for reporter expression and viability. Results The short intron-less elongation factor 1 alpha (EFS) promoter provided minimal reporter expression, whereas vectors containing the CAG promoter enabled transduction in 1% to 37% of cells depending on the AAV serotype; the AAV2 quad mutant (average 19.4%) and AAV2 7m8 (16.4%) outperformed AAV5 (12%) and AAV8 Y733F (2.1%). Reporter expression from rhodopsin kinase (GRK1) promoter transgenes occurred in ∼5% of cells regardless of the serotype. Positive co-localization with recoverin-expressing cells was achieved from all GRK1 vectors and the CAG AAV2 quad mutant variant. Treatment with the AAV vectors did not influence retinal organoid viability. Conclusions Reliable transduction of the photoreceptor-like cells of retinal organoids can be readily achieved. When using a CAG-driven transgene, transduction of a broad range of cell types is observed, and GRK1 transgenes provide a more restricted expression profile locating to the outer layer of photoreceptor-like cells of retinal organoids. Translational Relevance This study expands the AAV capsid and transgene options for preclinical testing of gene therapy in iPSC-derived human retinal organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E McClements
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Robert E MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
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One-step induction of photoreceptor-like cells from human iPSCs by delivering transcription factors. iScience 2022; 25:103987. [PMID: 35330684 PMCID: PMC8938283 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Suarez-Martinez E, Suazo-Sanchez I, Celis-Romero M, Carnero A. 3D and organoid culture in research: physiology, hereditary genetic diseases and cancer. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:39. [PMID: 35365227 PMCID: PMC8973959 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00775-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In nature, cells reside in tissues subject to complex cell–cell interactions, signals from extracellular molecules and niche soluble and mechanical signaling. These microenvironment interactions are responsible for cellular phenotypes and functions, especially in normal settings. However, in 2D cultures, where interactions are limited to the horizontal plane, cells are exposed uniformly to factors or drugs; therefore, this model does not reconstitute the interactions of a natural microenvironment. 3D culture systems more closely resemble the architectural and functional properties of in vivo tissues. In these 3D cultures, the cells are exposed to different concentrations of nutrients, growth factors, oxygen or cytotoxic agents depending on their localization and communication. The 3D architecture also differentially alters the physiological, biochemical, and biomechanical properties that can affect cell growth, cell survival, differentiation and morphogenesis, cell migration and EMT properties, mechanical responses and therapy resistance. This latter point may, in part, explain the failure of current therapies and affect drug discovery research. Organoids are a promising 3D culture system between 2D cultures and in vivo models that allow the manipulation of signaling pathways and genome editing of cells in a body-like environment but lack the many disadvantages of a living system. In this review, we will focus on the role of stem cells in the establishment of organoids and the possible therapeutic applications of this model, especially in the field of cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Suarez-Martinez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBIS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av Manuel Siurot sn, 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Suazo-Sanchez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBIS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av Manuel Siurot sn, 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Celis-Romero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBIS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av Manuel Siurot sn, 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Amancio Carnero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBIS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av Manuel Siurot sn, 41013, Sevilla, Spain. .,CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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50
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Martinelli I, Tayebati SK, Tomassoni D, Nittari G, Roy P, Amenta F. Brain and Retinal Organoids for Disease Modeling: The Importance of In Vitro Blood–Brain and Retinal Barriers Studies. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071120. [PMID: 35406683 PMCID: PMC8997725 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain and retinal organoids are functional and dynamic in vitro three-dimensional (3D) structures derived from pluripotent stem cells that spontaneously organize themselves to their in vivo counterparts. Here, we review the main literature data of how these organoids have been developed through different protocols and how they have been technically analyzed. Moreover, this paper reviews recent advances in using organoids to model neurological and retinal diseases, considering their potential for translational applications but also pointing out their limitations. Since the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and blood–retinal barrier (BRB) are understood to play a fundamental role respectively in brain and eye functions, both in health and in disease, we provide an overview of the progress in the development techniques of in vitro models as reliable and predictive screening tools for BBB and BRB-penetrating compounds. Furthermore, we propose potential future directions for brain and retinal organoids, in which dedicated biobanks will represent a novel tool for neuroscience and ophthalmology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Martinelli
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Seyed Khosrow Tayebati
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
| | - Daniele Tomassoni
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.T.); (P.R.)
| | - Giulio Nittari
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
| | - Proshanta Roy
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.T.); (P.R.)
| | - Francesco Amenta
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
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