1
|
Dorgau B, Collin J, Rozanska A, Zerti D, Unsworth A, Crosier M, Hussain R, Coxhead J, Dhanaseelan T, Patel A, Sowden JC, FitzPatrick DR, Queen R, Lako M. Single-cell analyses reveal transient retinal progenitor cells in the ciliary margin of developing human retina. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3567. [PMID: 38670973 PMCID: PMC11053058 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47933-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of retinal progenitor cells and differentiation to various retinal cell types represent fundamental processes during retinal development. Herein, we provide a comprehensive single cell characterisation of transcriptional and chromatin accessibility changes that underline retinal progenitor cell specification and differentiation over the course of human retinal development up to midgestation. Our lineage trajectory data demonstrate the presence of early retinal progenitors, which transit to late, and further to transient neurogenic progenitors, that give rise to all the retinal neurons. Combining single cell RNA-Seq with spatial transcriptomics of early eye samples, we demonstrate the transient presence of early retinal progenitors in the ciliary margin zone with decreasing occurrence from 8 post-conception week of human development. In retinal progenitor cells, we identified a significant enrichment for transcriptional enhanced associate domain transcription factor binding motifs, which when inhibited led to loss of cycling progenitors and retinal identity in pluripotent stem cell derived organoids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Birthe Dorgau
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Joseph Collin
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Agata Rozanska
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Darin Zerti
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Moira Crosier
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | | | | | | | - Aara Patel
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - David R FitzPatrick
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rachel Queen
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pauzuolyte V, Patel A, Wawrzynski JR, Ingham NJ, Leong YC, Karda R, Bitner‐Glindzicz M, Berger W, Waddington SN, Steel KP, Sowden JC. Systemic gene therapy rescues retinal dysfunction and hearing loss in a model of Norrie disease. EMBO Mol Med 2023; 15:e17393. [PMID: 37642150 PMCID: PMC10565640 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202317393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Deafness affects 5% of the world's population, yet there is a lack of treatments to prevent hearing loss due to genetic causes. Norrie disease is a recessive X-linked disorder, caused by NDP gene mutation. It manifests as blindness at birth and progressive sensorineural hearing loss, leading to debilitating dual sensory deprivation. To develop a gene therapy, we used a Norrie disease mouse model (Ndptm1Wbrg ), which recapitulates abnormal retinal vascularisation and progressive hearing loss. We delivered human NDP cDNA by intravenous injection of adeno-associated viral vector (AAV)9 at neonatal, juvenile and young adult pathological stages and investigated its therapeutic effects on the retina and cochlea. Neonatal treatment prevented the death of the sensory cochlear hair cells and rescued cochlear disease biomarkers as demonstrated by RNAseq and physiological measurements of auditory function. Retinal vascularisation and electroretinograms were restored to normal by neonatal treatment. Delivery of NDP gene therapy after the onset of the degenerative inner ear disease also ameliorated the cochlear pathology, supporting the feasibility of a clinical treatment for progressive hearing loss in people with Norrie disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valda Pauzuolyte
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College LondonLondonUK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Aara Patel
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College LondonLondonUK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - James R Wawrzynski
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College LondonLondonUK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Neil J Ingham
- Wolfson Centre for Age‐Related Diseases, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Yeh Chwan Leong
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College LondonLondonUK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Rajvinder Karda
- EGA Institute for Woman's Health, University College LondonLondonUK
| | - Maria Bitner‐Glindzicz
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College LondonLondonUK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Wolfgang Berger
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, University of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Simon N Waddington
- EGA Institute for Woman's Health, University College LondonLondonUK
- MRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of the WitswatersrandJohannesburgSouth Africa
| | - Karen P Steel
- Wolfson Centre for Age‐Related Diseases, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College LondonLondonUK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Leong YC, Sowden JC. Modeling Retinitis Pigmentosa with Patient-Derived iPSCs. Adv Exp Med Biol 2023; 1415:555-563. [PMID: 37440086 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) causes blindness in 1 out of 3000-4000 individuals worldwide. Understanding the disease mechanism underlying the death of photoreceptors in RP patient is crucial for the discovery and development of therapies to prevent and stop the progression of retinal degeneration. Despite having provided valuable insight into RP pathology, several shortcomings of animal models warrant the need for a better modeling system. This review discusses the current use of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to model RP and its advantages over animal models. Further improvement to enhance the representativeness of iPSC RP models is also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeh Chwan Leong
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Leong YC, Di Foggia V, Pramod H, Bitner-Glindzicz M, Patel A, Sowden JC. Molecular pathology of Usher 1B patient-derived retinal organoids at single cell resolution. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:2421-2437. [DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
|
5
|
Wawrzynski J, Patel A, Badran A, Dowell I, Henderson R, Sowden JC. Spectrum of Mutations in NDP Resulting in Ocular Disease; a Systematic Review. Front Genet 2022; 13:884722. [PMID: 35651932 PMCID: PMC9149367 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.884722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims and Rationale: The inner retina is supplied by three intraretinal capillary plexi whereas the outer retina is supplied by the choroidal circulation: NDP is essential for normal intraretinal vascularisation. Pathogenic variants in NDP (Xp11.3) may result in either a severe retinal phenotype associated with hearing loss (Norrie Disease) or a moderate retinal phenotype (Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy, FEVR). However, little is known about whether the nature or location of the NDP variant is predictive of severity. In this systematic review we summarise all reported NDP variants and draw conclusions about whether the nature of the NDP variant is predictive of the severity of the resulting ocular pathology and associated hearing loss and intellectual disability. Findings: 201 different variants in the NDP gene have been reported as disease-causing. The pathological phenotype that may result from a disease-causing NDP variant is quite diverse but generally comprises a consistent cluster of features (retinal hypovascularisation, exudation, persistent foetal vasculature, tractional/exudative retinal detachment, intellectual disability and hearing loss) that vary predictably with severity. Previous reviews have found no clear pattern in the nature of NDP mutations that cause either FEVR or Norrie disease, with the exception that mutations affecting cysteine residues have been associated with Norrie Disease and that visual loss amongst patients with Norrie disease tends to be more severe if the NDP mutation results in an early termination of translation as opposed to a missense related amino acid change. A key limitation of previous reviews has been variability in the case definition of Norrie disease and FEVR amongst authors. We thus reclassified patients into two groups based only on the severity of their retinal disease. Of the reported pathogenic variants that have been described in more than one patient, we found that any given variant caused an equivalent severity of retinopathy each time it was reported with very few exceptions. We therefore conclude that specific NDP mutations generally result in a consistent retinal phenotype each time they arise. Reports by different authors of the same variant causing either FEVR or Norrie disease conflict primarily due to variability in the authors’ respective case definitions rather than true differences in disease severity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James Wawrzynski
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, National Institute for Health and Care Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom.,Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aara Patel
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, National Institute for Health and Care Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abdul Badran
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, National Institute for Health and Care Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Robert Henderson
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, National Institute for Health and Care Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom.,Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jane C Sowden
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, National Institute for Health and Care Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rashidi H, Leong YC, Venner K, Pramod H, Fei QZ, Jones OJR, Moulding D, Sowden JC. Generation of 3D retinal tissue from human pluripotent stem cells using a directed small molecule-based serum-free microwell platform. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6646. [PMID: 35459774 PMCID: PMC9033780 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10540-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases are a leading cause of blindness worldwide with debilitating life-long consequences for the affected individuals. Cell therapy is considered a potential future clinical intervention to restore and preserve sight by replacing lost photoreceptors and/or retinal pigment epithelium. Development of protocols to generate retinal tissue from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC), reliably and at scale, can provide a platform to generate photoreceptors for cell therapy and to model retinal disease in vitro. Here, we describe an improved differentiation platform to generate retinal organoids from hPSC at scale and free from time-consuming manual microdissection steps. The scale up was achieved using an agarose mould platform enabling generation of uniform self-assembled 3D spheres from dissociated hPSC in microwells. Subsequent retinal differentiation was efficiently achieved via a stepwise differentiation protocol using a number of small molecules. To facilitate clinical translation, xeno-free approaches were developed by substituting Matrigel™ and foetal bovine serum with recombinant laminin and human platelet lysate, respectively. Generated retinal organoids exhibited important features reminiscent of retinal tissue including correct site-specific localisation of proteins involved in phototransduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Rashidi
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Yeh Chwan Leong
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Kerrie Venner
- UCL Institute of Neurology, Queens Square, University College London, London, UK
| | - Hema Pramod
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Qi-Zhen Fei
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Owen J R Jones
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Dale Moulding
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Nazlamova L, Cassidy EJ, Sowden JC, Lotery A, Lakowski J. Generation of a Cone Photoreceptor-specific GNGT2 Reporter Line in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2022; 40:190-203. [PMID: 35293574 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxab015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescent reporter lines generated in human pluripotent stem cells are a highly useful tool to track, isolate, and analyze cell types and lineages in live cultures. Here, we generate the first human cone photoreceptor reporter cell line by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line to tag both alleles of the Guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit gamma-T2 (GNGT2) gene with a mCherry reporter cassette. Three-dimensional optic vesicle-like structures were produced to verify reporter fidelity and track cones throughout their development in culture. The GNGT2-T2A-mCherry hESC line faithfully and robustly labels GNGT2-expressing cones throughout the entirety of their differentiation in vitro, recapitulating normal fetal expression of this gene. Our observations indicate that human cones undergo significant migratory activity during the course of differentiation in vitro. Consistent with this, our analysis of human fetal retinae from different stages of development finds positional differences of the cone population depending on their state of maturation. This novel reporter line will provide a useful tool for investigating human cone development and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liliya Nazlamova
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Emma-Jane Cassidy
- Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Andrew Lotery
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Jörn Lakowski
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bryant D, Pauzuolyte V, Ingham NJ, Patel A, Pagarkar W, Anderson LA, Smith KE, Moulding DA, Leong YC, Jafree DJ, Long DA, Al-Yassin A, Steel KP, Jagger DJ, Forge A, Berger W, Sowden JC, Bitner-Glindzicz M. The timing of auditory sensory deficits in Norrie disease has implications for therapeutic intervention. JCI Insight 2022; 7:148586. [PMID: 35132964 PMCID: PMC8855802 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.148586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Norrie disease is caused by mutation of the NDP gene, presenting as congenital blindness followed by later onset of hearing loss. Protecting patients from hearing loss is critical for maintaining their quality of life. This study aimed to understand the onset of pathology in cochlear structure and function. By investigating patients and juvenile Ndp-mutant mice, we elucidated the sequence of onset of physiological changes (in auditory brainstem responses, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, endocochlear potential, blood-labyrinth barrier integrity) and determined the cellular, histological, and ultrastructural events leading to hearing loss. We found that cochlear vascular pathology occurs earlier than previously reported and precedes sensorineural hearing loss. The work defines a disease mechanism whereby early malformation of the cochlear microvasculature precedes loss of vessel integrity and decline of endocochlear potential, leading to hearing loss and hair cell death while sparing spiral ganglion cells. This provides essential information on events defining the optimal therapeutic window and indicates that early intervention is needed. In an era of advancing gene therapy and small-molecule technologies, this study establishes Ndp-mutant mice as a platform to test such interventions and has important implications for understanding the progression of hearing loss in Norrie disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dale Bryant
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Valda Pauzuolyte
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Neil J Ingham
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aara Patel
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Waheeda Pagarkar
- Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy A Anderson
- UCL Ear Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katie E Smith
- UCL Ear Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dale A Moulding
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yeh C Leong
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniyal J Jafree
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom.,UCL MB/PhD Programme, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Long
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Amina Al-Yassin
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karen P Steel
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J Jagger
- UCL Ear Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Forge
- UCL Ear Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wolfgang Berger
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Zürich, Schlieren, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jane C Sowden
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Bitner-Glindzicz
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Cuevas E, Holder DL, Alshehri AH, Tréguier J, Lakowski J, Sowden JC. NRL -/- gene edited human embryonic stem cells generate rod-deficient retinal organoids enriched in S-cone-like photoreceptors. Stem Cells 2021; 39:414-428. [PMID: 33400844 PMCID: PMC8438615 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Organoid cultures represent a unique tool to investigate the developmental complexity of tissues like the human retina. NRL is a transcription factor required for the specification and homeostasis of mammalian rod photoreceptors. In Nrl-deficient mice, photoreceptor precursor cells do not differentiate into rods, and instead follow a default photoreceptor specification pathway to generate S-cone-like cells. To investigate whether this genetic switch mechanism is conserved in humans, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to engineer an NRL-deficient embryonic stem cell (ESC) line (NRL-/- ), and differentiated it into retinal organoids. Retinal organoids self-organize and resemble embryonic optic vesicles (OVs) that recapitulate the natural histogenesis of rods and cone photoreceptors. NRL-/- OVs develop comparably to controls, and exhibit a laminated, organized retinal structure with markers of photoreceptor synaptogenesis. Using immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), we observed that NRL-/- OVs do not express NRL, or other rod photoreceptor markers directly or indirectly regulated by NRL. On the contrary, they show an abnormal number of photoreceptors positive for S-OPSIN, which define a primordial subtype of cone, and overexpress other cone genes indicating a conserved molecular switch in mammals. This study represents the first evidence in a human in vitro ESC-derived organoid system that NRL is required to define rod identity, and that in its absence S-cone-like cells develop as the default photoreceptor cell type. It shows how gene edited retinal organoids provide a useful system to investigate human photoreceptor specification, relevant for efforts to generate cells for transplantation in retinal degenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Cuevas
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Daniel L. Holder
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Ashwak H. Alshehri
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Julie Tréguier
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| | - Jörn Lakowski
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
- Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and RegenerationUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Jane C. Sowden
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Patel A, Anderson G, Galea GL, Balys M, Sowden JC. A molecular and cellular analysis of human embryonic optic fissure closure related to the eye malformation coloboma. Development 2020; 147:dev193649. [PMID: 33158926 DOI: 10.1242/dev.193649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ocular coloboma is a congenital eye malformation, resulting from a failure in optic fissure closure (OFC) and causing visual impairment. There has been little study of the epithelial fusion process underlying closure in the human embryo and coloboma aetiology remains poorly understood. We performed RNAseq of cell populations isolated using laser capture microdissection to identify novel human OFC signature genes and probe the expression profile of known coloboma genes, along with a comparative murine analysis. Gene set enrichment patterns showed conservation between species. Expression of genes involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition was transiently enriched in the human fissure margins during OFC at days 41-44. Electron microscopy and histological analyses showed that cells transiently delaminate at the point of closure, and produce cytoplasmic protrusions, before rearranging to form two continuous epithelial layers. Apoptosis was not observed in the human fissure margins. These analyses support a model of human OFC in which epithelial cells at the fissure margins undergo a transient epithelial-to-mesenchymal-like transition, facilitating cell rearrangement to form a complete optic cup.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aara Patel
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Glenn Anderson
- Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Gabriel L Galea
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Monika Balys
- Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sowden JC, Patel A, Dahlmann-Noor A, Cullup T, Jenkins L. Reply. Ophthalmology 2020; 127:e22-e23. [PMID: 32200847 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2019.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jane C Sowden
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, NHS Foundation Trust and University College London, London, UK.
| | - Aara Patel
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, NHS Foundation Trust and University College London, London, UK
| | - Annegret Dahlmann-Noor
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Thomas Cullup
- North East Thames Regional Genetics Laboratory, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Lucy Jenkins
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, NHS Foundation Trust and University College London, London, UK; North East Thames Regional Genetics Laboratory, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Sowden JC, Kros CJ, Sirimanna T, Pagarkar W, Oluonye N, Henderson RH. Impact of sight and hearing loss in patients with Norrie disease: advantages of Dual Sensory clinics in patient care. BMJ Paediatr Open 2020; 4:e000781. [PMID: 33225082 PMCID: PMC7670942 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Norrie disease (ND) is a rare, X-linked condition of visual and auditory impairment, often presenting with additional neurological features and developmental delays of varying severity. While all affected patients are born blind, or lose their vision in infancy, progressive sensorineural hearing loss develops in the majority of cases and is typically detected in the second decade of life. A range of additional symptoms of ND, such as seizure disorders, typically appear from a young age, but it is difficult to predict the range of symptoms ND patients will experience. After growing up without vision, hearing loss represents the greatest worry for many patients with ND, as they may lose the ability to participate in previously enjoyed activities or to communicate with others. Dual sensory loss has a physical, psychosocial and financial impact on both patients with ND and their families. Routine monitoring of the condition is required in order to identify, treat and provide support for emerging health problems, leading to a large burden of medical appointments. Many patients need to travel long distances to meet with specialists, representing a further burden on time and finances. Additionally, the rare nature of dual sensory impairment in children means that few clinical environments are designed to meet their needs. Dual Sensory clinics are multidisciplinary environments designed for sensory-impaired children and have been suggested to alleviate the impact of diseases involving sensory loss such as ND. Here, we discuss the diagnosis, monitoring and management of ND and the impact it has on paediatric patients and their caregivers. We describe the potential for dual sensory clinics to reduce disease burden through providing an appropriate clinical environment, access to multiple clinical experts in one visit, and ease of monitoring for patients with ND.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jane C Sowden
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, London, UK
| | - Corné J Kros
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, UK
| | - Tony Sirimanna
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, London, UK
| | | | - Ngozi Oluonye
- Wolfson Neurodisability Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, London, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lukowski SW, Lo CY, Sharov AA, Nguyen Q, Fang L, Hung SS, Zhu L, Zhang T, Grünert U, Nguyen T, Senabouth A, Jabbari JS, Welby E, Sowden JC, Waugh HS, Mackey A, Pollock G, Lamb TD, Wang PY, Hewitt AW, Gillies MC, Powell JE, Wong RC. A single-cell transcriptome atlas of the adult human retina. EMBO J 2019; 38:e100811. [PMID: 31436334 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2018100811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The retina is a specialized neural tissue that senses light and initiates image processing. Although the functional organization of specific retina cells has been well studied, the molecular profile of many cell types remains unclear in humans. To comprehensively profile the human retina, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on 20,009 cells from three donors and compiled a reference transcriptome atlas. Using unsupervised clustering analysis, we identified 18 transcriptionally distinct cell populations representing all known neural retinal cells: rod photoreceptors, cone photoreceptors, Müller glia, bipolar cells, amacrine cells, retinal ganglion cells, horizontal cells, astrocytes, and microglia. Our data captured molecular profiles for healthy and putative early degenerating rod photoreceptors, and revealed the loss of MALAT1 expression with longer post-mortem time, which potentially suggested a novel role of MALAT1 in rod photoreceptor degeneration. We have demonstrated the use of this retina transcriptome atlas to benchmark pluripotent stem cell-derived cone photoreceptors and an adult Müller glia cell line. This work provides an important reference with unprecedented insights into the transcriptional landscape of human retinal cells, which is fundamental to understanding retinal biology and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel W Lukowski
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Camden Y Lo
- Monash University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Alexei A Sharov
- National Institute for Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Quan Nguyen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Lyujie Fang
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sandy Sc Hung
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Ling Zhu
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine, Save Sight Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ting Zhang
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine, Save Sight Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ulrike Grünert
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine, Save Sight Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tu Nguyen
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Anne Senabouth
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jafar S Jabbari
- Australian Genome Research Facility, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Emily Welby
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Trevor D Lamb
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Peng-Yuan Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,Center for Human Tissues and Organs Degeneration, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shenzhen, China
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas., Australia
| | - Mark C Gillies
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine, Save Sight Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Joseph E Powell
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,UNSW Cellular Genomics Futures Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Raymond Cb Wong
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.,Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hardy H, Prendergast JG, Patel A, Dutta S, Trejo-Reveles V, Kroeger H, Yung AR, Goodrich LV, Brooks B, Sowden JC, Rainger J. Detailed analysis of chick optic fissure closure reveals Netrin-1 as an essential mediator of epithelial fusion. eLife 2019; 8:43877. [PMID: 31162046 PMCID: PMC6606025 DOI: 10.7554/elife.43877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial fusion underlies many vital organogenic processes during embryogenesis. Disruptions to these cause a significant number of human birth defects, including ocular coloboma. We provide robust spatial-temporal staging and unique anatomical detail of optic fissure closure (OFC) in the embryonic chick, including evidence for roles of apoptosis and epithelial remodelling. We performed complementary transcriptomic profiling and show that Netrin-1 (NTN1) is precisely expressed in the chick fissure margin during fusion but is immediately downregulated after fusion. We further provide a combination of protein localisation and phenotypic evidence in chick, humans, mice and zebrafish that Netrin-1 has an evolutionarily conserved and essential requirement for OFC, and is likely to have an important role in palate fusion. Our data suggest that NTN1 is a strong candidate locus for human coloboma and other multi-system developmental fusion defects, and show that chick OFC is a powerful model for epithelial fusion research. Our bodies are made of many different groups of cells, which are arranged into tissues that perform specific roles. As tissues form in the embryo they must adopt precise three-dimensional structures, depending on their position in the body. In many cases this involves two edges of tissue fusing together to prevent gaps being present in the final structure. In individuals with a condition called ocular coloboma some of the tissues in the eyes fail to merge together correctly, leading to wide gaps that can severely affect vision. There are currently no treatments available for ocular coloboma and in over 70% of patients the cause of the defect is not known. Identifying new genes that control how tissues fuse may help researchers to find what causes this condition and multiple other tissue fusion defects, and establish whether these may be preventable in the future. Much of what is currently known about how tissues fuse has come from studying mice and zebrafish embryos. Although the extensive genetic tools available in these ‘models’ have proved very useful, both offer only a limited time window for observing tissues as they fuse, and the regions involved are very small. Chick embryos, on the other hand, are much larger than mouse or zebrafish embryos and are easier to access from within their eggs. This led Hardy et al. to investigate whether the developing chick eye could be a more useful model for studying the precise details of how tissues merge. Examining chick embryos revealed that tissues in the base of their eyes fuse between five and eight days after the egg had been fertilised, a comparatively long time compared to existing models. Also, many of the genes that Hardy et al. found switched on in chick eyes as the tissues merged had previously been identified as being essential for tissue fusion in humans. However, several new genes were also shown to be involved in the fusing process. For example, Netrin-1 was important for tissues to fuse in the eyes as well as in other regions of the developing embryo. These findings demonstrate that the chick eye is an excellent new model system to study how tissues fuse in animals. Furthermore, the genes identified by Hardy et al. may help researchers to identify the genetic causes of ocular coloboma and other tissue fusion defects in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Holly Hardy
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - James Gd Prendergast
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Aara Patel
- Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sunit Dutta
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Violeta Trejo-Reveles
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah Kroeger
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea R Yung
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Lisa V Goodrich
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Brian Brooks
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joe Rainger
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Aldunate EZ, Di Foggia V, Di Marco F, Hervas LA, Ribeiro JC, Holder DL, Patel A, Jannini TB, Thompson DA, Martinez-Barbera JP, Pearson RA, Ali RR, Sowden JC. Conditional Dicer1 depletion using Chrnb4-Cre leads to cone cell death and impaired photopic vision. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2314. [PMID: 30783126 PMCID: PMC6381178 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-38294-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Irreversible photoreceptor cell death is a major cause of blindness in many retinal dystrophies. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the progressive loss of photoreceptor cells remains therefore crucial. Abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been linked with the aetiology of a number of retinal dystrophies. However, their role during the degenerative process remains poorly understood. Loss of cone photoreceptors in the human macula has the greatest impact on sight as these cells provide high acuity vision. Using a Chrnb4-cre; Dicerflox/flox conditional knockout mouse (Dicer CKO) to delete Dicer1 from cone cells, we show that cone photoreceptor cells degenerate and die in the Dicer-deleted retina. Embryonic eye morphogenesis appeared normal in Dicer CKO mice. Cone photoreceptor abnormalities were apparent by 3 weeks of age, displaying either very short or absent outer segments. By 4 months 50% of cones were lost and cone function was impaired as assessed by electroretinography (ERG). RNAseq analysis of the Dicer CKO retina revealed altered expression of genes involved in the visual perception pathway. These data show that loss of Dicer1 leads to early-onset cone cell degeneration and suggest that Dicer1 is essential for cone photoreceptor survival and homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Zabala Aldunate
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Valentina Di Foggia
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Fabiana Di Marco
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Laura Abelleira Hervas
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Genetics, London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Joana Claudio Ribeiro
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Genetics, London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Daniel L Holder
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Aara Patel
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Tommaso B Jannini
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Dorothy A Thompson
- Clinical and Academic Department of Ophthalmology Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Juan Pedro Martinez-Barbera
- Developmental Biology of Birth Defects Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Rachael A Pearson
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Genetics, London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Genetics, London, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
The replacement of retinal cells, or the support of surviving retinal neurons, in a degenerated retina presents a significant challenge in the fields of ophthalmology and regenerative medicine. Stem cell-based therapies are being explored as an approach for treating retinal dystrophies, such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Stargardt's disease, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This review provides an update on the recent progress made toward the restoration of vision lost to degenerative disease using stem cell-based transplantation strategies and the challenges that need to be overcome. Both retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor replacement therapies are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Cuevas
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Paresh Parmar
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lakowski J, Welby E, Budinger D, Di Marco F, Di Foggia V, Bainbridge JWB, Wallace K, Gamm DM, Ali RR, Sowden JC. Isolation of Human Photoreceptor Precursors via a Cell Surface Marker Panel from Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Organoids and Fetal Retinae. Stem Cells 2018; 36:709-722. [PMID: 29327488 PMCID: PMC5947711 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Loss of photoreceptor cells due to retinal degeneration is one of the main causes of blindness in the developed world. Although there is currently no effective treatment, cell replacement therapy using stem‐cell‐derived photoreceptor cells may be a feasible future treatment option. In order to ensure safety and efficacy of this approach, robust cell isolation and purification protocols must be developed. To this end, we previously developed a biomarker panel for the isolation of mouse photoreceptor precursors from the developing mouse retina and mouse embryonic stem cell cultures. In the current study we applied this approach to the human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) system, and identified novel biomarker combinations that can be leveraged for the isolation of human photoreceptors. Human retinal samples and hPSC‐derived retinal organoid cultures were screened against 242 human monoclonal antibodies using a high through‐put flow cytometry approach. We identified 46 biomarkers with significant expression levels in the human retina and hPSC differentiation cultures. Human retinal cell samples, either from fetal tissue or derived from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell cultures, were fluorescence‐activated cell sorted (FACS) using selected candidate biomarkers that showed expression in discrete cell populations. Enrichment for photoreceptors and exclusion of mitotically active cells was demonstrated by immunocytochemical analysis with photoreceptor‐specific antibodies and Ki‐67. We established a biomarker combination, which enables the robust purification of viable human photoreceptors from both human retinae and hPSC‐derived organoid cultures. Stem Cells2018;36:709–722
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jörn Lakowski
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Welby
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dimitri Budinger
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fabiana Di Marco
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Di Foggia
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kyle Wallace
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Waisman Center Rm T609, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - David M Gamm
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Waisman Center Rm T609, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Waisman Center Rm T609, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Waldron PV, Di Marco F, Kruczek K, Ribeiro J, Graca AB, Hippert C, Aghaizu ND, Kalargyrou AA, Barber AC, Grimaldi G, Duran Y, Blackford SJI, Kloc M, Goh D, Zabala Aldunate E, Sampson RD, Bainbridge JWB, Smith AJ, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Sowden JC, Ali RR, Pearson RA. Transplanted Donor- or Stem Cell-Derived Cone Photoreceptors Can Both Integrate and Undergo Material Transfer in an Environment-Dependent Manner. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 10:406-421. [PMID: 29307580 PMCID: PMC5830910 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human vision relies heavily upon cone photoreceptors, and their loss results in permanent visual impairment. Transplantation of healthy photoreceptors can restore visual function in models of inherited blindness, a process previously understood to arise by donor cell integration within the host retina. However, we and others recently demonstrated that donor rod photoreceptors engage in material transfer with host photoreceptors, leading to the host cells acquiring proteins otherwise expressed only by donor cells. We sought to determine whether stem cell- and donor-derived cones undergo integration and/or material transfer. We find that material transfer accounts for a significant proportion of rescued cells following cone transplantation into non-degenerative hosts. Strikingly, however, substantial numbers of cones integrated into the Nrl-/- and Prph2rd2/rd2, but not Nrl-/-;RPE65R91W/R91W, murine models of retinal degeneration. This confirms the occurrence of photoreceptor integration in certain models of retinal degeneration and demonstrates the importance of the host environment in determining transplantation outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul V Waldron
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Fabiana Di Marco
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Kamil Kruczek
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Joana Ribeiro
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Anna B Graca
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Claire Hippert
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Nozie D Aghaizu
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | - Amanda C Barber
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Giulia Grimaldi
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Yanai Duran
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | - Magdalena Kloc
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Debbie Goh
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Eduardo Zabala Aldunate
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Robert D Sampson
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | - Alexander J Smith
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Rachael A Pearson
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Fritsch DM, Sowden JC, Thompson DA. Pattern Onset ERGs and VEPs Produced by Patterns Arising From Light Increment and Decrement. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2018; 59:94-99. [PMID: 29332121 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-22984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Our aim was to elaborate how on and off signals contribute to pattern ERGs and pattern visual evoked potentials (VEPs) by using pedestal patterns arising from incremental and decremental onset stimulation. Methods Pattern onset/offset ERGs and VEPs were produced by black and white checks of 60' side length and 88% spatial contrast appearing in a 16° field for 200 ms from white (110 cd/m2), black (7 cd/m2), and gray (48 cd/m2) backgrounds and disappeared for 1000 ms. Twenty healthy subjects participated in the study (median age 19.5, range, 5-31 years), 10 of whom also underwent pattern onset/offset ERG recordings to the same stimuli (median age 25.7, range, 22-31 years). VEPs were recorded from an occipital array referred to Fz. Pattern electroretinograms (PERGs) were recorded from "Dawson-Trick-Litzkow" (DTL) plus corneal electrodes referred to ipsilateral outer canthi. Results There was high correlation within subjects of the VEP waveform produced by patterns arising from light increment and decrement (group mean correlation coefficient of PVEPs to check appearance from black versus white: 87%). An average of increment and decrement PERGs simulated the onset PERG from a gray background. This waveform is akin to standard International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) clinical PERGs to reversing checks. Conclusions In healthy individuals, the early components of the pattern onset/offset VEP waveforms are comparable to light increment and decrement pedestal stimulation. Pattern onset/offset ERGs to pedestal stimulation may be used to probe simultaneous recording of ERGs with VEPs in order to obtain an assessment of retinal ganglion cell and optic pathway function in patients with less stable fixation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis M Fritsch
- Clinical and Academic Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street Hospital London NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.,University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Clinical and Academic Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street Hospital London NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.,University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dorothy A Thompson
- Clinical and Academic Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street Hospital London NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.,University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Welby E, Lakowski J, Di Foggia V, Budinger D, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Lun ATL, Epstein M, Patel A, Cuevas E, Kruczek K, Naeem A, Minneci F, Hubank M, Jones DT, Marioni JC, Ali RR, Sowden JC. Isolation and Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Human Fetal and iPSC-Derived Cone Photoreceptor Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 9:1898-1915. [PMID: 29153988 PMCID: PMC5785701 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of cone photoreceptors, crucial for daylight vision, has the greatest impact on sight in retinal degeneration. Transplantation of stem cell-derived L/M-opsin cones, which form 90% of the human cone population, could provide a feasible therapy to restore vision. However, transcriptomic similarities between fetal and stem cell-derived cones remain to be defined, in addition to development of cone cell purification strategies. Here, we report an analysis of the human L/M-opsin cone photoreceptor transcriptome using an AAV2/9.pR2.1:GFP reporter. This led to the identification of a cone-enriched gene signature, which we used to demonstrate similar gene expression between fetal and stem cell-derived cones. We then defined a cluster of differentiation marker combination that, when used for cell sorting, significantly enriches for cone photoreceptors from the fetal retina and stem cell-derived retinal organoids, respectively. These data may facilitate more efficient isolation of human stem cell-derived cones for use in clinical transplantation studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Welby
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Jorn Lakowski
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Valentina Di Foggia
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Dimitri Budinger
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Aaron T L Lun
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Michael Epstein
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Aara Patel
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Elisa Cuevas
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Kamil Kruczek
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Arifa Naeem
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Federico Minneci
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Mike Hubank
- UCL Genomics, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - David T Jones
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - John C Marioni
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK; EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Gonzalez-Cordero A, Kruczek K, Naeem A, Fernando M, Kloc M, Ribeiro J, Goh D, Duran Y, Blackford SJI, Abelleira-Hervas L, Sampson RD, Shum IO, Branch MJ, Gardner PJ, Sowden JC, Bainbridge JWB, Smith AJ, West EL, Pearson RA, Ali RR. Recapitulation of Human Retinal Development from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Generates Transplantable Populations of Cone Photoreceptors. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 9:820-837. [PMID: 28844659 PMCID: PMC5599247 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transplantation of rod photoreceptors, derived either from neonatal retinae or pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), can restore rod-mediated visual function in murine models of inherited blindness. However, humans depend more upon cone photoreceptors that are required for daylight, color, and high-acuity vision. Indeed, macular retinopathies involving loss of cones are leading causes of blindness. An essential step for developing stem cell-based therapies for maculopathies is the ability to generate transplantable human cones from renewable sources. Here, we report a modified 2D/3D protocol for generating hPSC-derived neural retinal vesicles with well-formed ONL-like structures containing cones and rods bearing inner segments and connecting cilia, nascent outer segments, and presynaptic structures. This differentiation system recapitulates human photoreceptor development, allowing the isolation and transplantation of a pure population of stage-matched cones. Purified human long/medium cones survive and become incorporated within the adult mouse retina, supporting the potential of photoreceptor transplantation for treating retinal degeneration. hPSC-derived photoreceptors express markers in a pattern similar to human development 2D/3D differentiation protocol generates sufficient cones for transplantation hPSC-derived cones incorporate into the adult retina following transplantation
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Kamil Kruczek
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Arifa Naeem
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Milan Fernando
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Magdalena Kloc
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Joana Ribeiro
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Debbie Goh
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Yanai Duran
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Samuel J I Blackford
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Laura Abelleira-Hervas
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Robert D Sampson
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Ian O Shum
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Matthew J Branch
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Peter J Gardner
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - James W B Bainbridge
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Alexander J Smith
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Emma L West
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Rachael A Pearson
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Di Foggia V, Makwana P, Ali RR, Sowden JC. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies for Degenerative Disease of the Outer Retina: Disease Modeling and Cell Replacement. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2016; 32:240-52. [PMID: 27027805 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2015.0143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapies are being explored as potential treatments for retinal disease. How to replace neurons in a degenerated retina presents a continued challenge for the regenerative medicine field that, if achieved, could restore sight. The major issues are: (i) the source and availability of donor cells for transplantation; (ii) the differentiation of stem cells into the required retinal cells; and (iii) the delivery, integration, functionality, and survival of new cells in the host neural network. This review considers the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), currently under intense investigation, as a platform for cell transplantation therapy. Moreover, patient-specific iPSC are being developed for autologous cell transplantation and as a tool for modeling specific retinal diseases, testing gene therapies, and drug screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Di Foggia
- 1 UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| | - Priyanka Makwana
- 1 UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R Ali
- 2 UCL Institute of Ophthalmology , London, United Kingdom
| | - Jane C Sowden
- 1 UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
|
24
|
Lakowski J, Gonzalez-Cordero A, West EL, Han YT, Welby E, Naeem A, Blackford SJI, Bainbridge JWB, Pearson RA, Ali RR, Sowden JC. Transplantation of Photoreceptor Precursors Isolated via a Cell Surface Biomarker Panel From Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Self-Forming Retina. Stem Cells 2015; 33:2469-82. [PMID: 25982268 PMCID: PMC4862023 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Loss of photoreceptors due to retinal degeneration is a major cause of untreatable blindness. Cell replacement therapy, using pluripotent stem cell-derived photoreceptor cells, may be a feasible future treatment. Achieving safe and effective cell replacement is critically dependent on the stringent selection and purification of optimal cells for transplantation. Previously, we demonstrated effective transplantation of post-mitotic photoreceptor precursor cells labelled by fluorescent reporter genes. As genetically labelled cells are not desirable for therapy, here we developed a surface biomarker cell selection strategy for application to complex pluripotent stem cell differentiation cultures. We show that a five cell surface biomarker panel CD73(+)CD24(+)CD133(+)CD47(+)CD15(-) facilitates the isolation of photoreceptor precursors from three-dimensional self-forming retina differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells. Importantly, stem cell-derived cells isolated using the biomarker panel successfully integrate and mature into new rod photoreceptors in the adult mouse retinae after subretinal transplantation. Conversely, unsorted or negatively selected cells do not give rise to newly integrated rods after transplantation. The biomarker panel also removes detrimental proliferating cells prior to transplantation. Notably, we demonstrate how expression of the biomarker panel is conserved in the human retina and propose that a similar selection strategy will facilitate isolation of human transplantation-competent cells for therapeutic application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorn Lakowski
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Emma L West
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ya-Ting Han
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Welby
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Arifa Naeem
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Rachael A Pearson
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Islam L, Kelberman D, Williamson L, Lewis N, Glindzicz MB, Nischal KK, Sowden JC. Functional Analysis of FOXE3
Mutations Causing Dominant and Recessive Ocular Anterior Segment Disease. Hum Mutat 2015; 36:296-300. [DOI: 10.1002/humu.22741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lily Islam
- Developmental Biology and Cancer; Birth Defects Research Centre; UCL Institute of Child Health; London UK
| | - Daniel Kelberman
- Developmental Biology and Cancer; Birth Defects Research Centre; UCL Institute of Child Health; London UK
| | - Laura Williamson
- Developmental Biology and Cancer; Birth Defects Research Centre; UCL Institute of Child Health; London UK
| | - Nicola Lewis
- Developmental Biology and Cancer; Birth Defects Research Centre; UCL Institute of Child Health; London UK
| | | | - Ken K. Nischal
- Developmental Biology and Cancer; Birth Defects Research Centre; UCL Institute of Child Health; London UK
- Clinical and Academic Department of Ophthalmology; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust; London UK
| | - Jane C. Sowden
- Developmental Biology and Cancer; Birth Defects Research Centre; UCL Institute of Child Health; London UK
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
Many untreatable blinding diseases involve degeneration of retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells, which has prompted exploration of the therapeutic potential of human-pluripotent-stem-cell-derived RPE. The first safety trials reported in The Lancet of embryonic-stem-cell-derived RPE cell transplants indicate no serious adverse outcomes and encourage further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jane C Sowden
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Warre-Cornish K, Barber AC, Sowden JC, Ali RR, Pearson RA. Migration, integration and maturation of photoreceptor precursors following transplantation in the mouse retina. Stem Cells Dev 2014; 23:941-54. [PMID: 24328605 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2013.0471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal degeneration leading to loss of photoreceptors is a major cause of untreatable blindness. Recent research has yielded definitive evidence for restoration of vision following the transplantation of rod photoreceptors in murine models of blindness, while advances in stem cell biology have enabled the generation of transplantable photoreceptors from embryonic stem cells. Importantly, the amount of visual function restored is dependent upon the number of photoreceptors that migrate correctly into the recipient retina. The developmental stage of the donor cells is important for their ability to migrate; they must be immature photoreceptor precursors. Little is known about how and when donor cell migration, integration, and maturation occurs. Here, we have performed a comprehensive histological analysis of the 6-week period following rod transplantation in mice. Donor cells migrate predominately as single entities during the first week undergoing a stereotyped sequence of morphological changes in their translocation from the site of transplantation, through the interphotoreceptor matrix and into the recipient retina. This includes initial polarization toward the outer nuclear layer (ONL), followed by formation of an apical attachment and rudimentary segment during migration into the ONL. Strikingly, acquisition of a nuclear architecture typical of mature rods was accelerated compared with normal development and a feature of migrating cells. Once within the ONL, precursors formed synaptic-like structures and outer segments in accordance with normal maturation. The restoration of visual function mediated by transplanted photoreceptors correlated with the later expression of rod α-transducin, achieving maximal function by 5 weeks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Warre-Cornish
- 1 Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology , London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Kelberman D, Islam L, Lakowski J, Bacchelli C, Chanudet E, Lescai F, Patel A, Stupka E, Buck A, Wolf S, Beales PL, Jacques TS, Bitner-Glindzicz M, Liasis A, Lehmann OJ, Kohlhase J, Nischal KK, Sowden JC. Mutation of SALL2 causes recessive ocular coloboma in humans and mice. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 23:2511-26. [PMID: 24412933 PMCID: PMC3990155 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Ocular coloboma is a congenital defect resulting from failure of normal closure of the optic fissure during embryonic eye development. This birth defect causes childhood blindness worldwide, yet the genetic etiology is poorly understood. Here, we identified a novel homozygous mutation in the SALL2 gene in members of a consanguineous family affected with non-syndromic ocular coloboma variably affecting the iris and retina. This mutation, c.85G>T, introduces a premature termination codon (p.Glu29*) predicted to truncate the SALL2 protein so that it lacks three clusters of zinc-finger motifs that are essential for DNA-binding activity. This discovery identifies SALL2 as the third member of the Drosophila homeotic Spalt-like family of developmental transcription factor genes implicated in human disease. SALL2 is expressed in the developing human retina at the time of, and subsequent to, optic fissure closure. Analysis of Sall2-deficient mouse embryos revealed delayed apposition of the optic fissure margins and the persistence of an anterior retinal coloboma phenotype after birth. Sall2-deficient embryos displayed correct posterior closure toward the optic nerve head, and upon contact of the fissure margins, dissolution of the basal lamina occurred and PAX2, known to be critical for this process, was expressed normally. Anterior closure was disrupted with the fissure margins failing to meet, or in some cases misaligning leading to a retinal lesion. These observations demonstrate, for the first time, a role for SALL2 in eye morphogenesis and that loss of function of the gene causes ocular coloboma in humans and mice.
Collapse
|
29
|
Panizzo RA, Gadian DG, Sowden JC, Wells JA, Lythgoe MF, Ferretti P. Monitoring ferumoxide-labelled neural progenitor cells and lesion evolution by magnetic resonance imaging in a model of cell transplantation in cerebral ischaemia. F1000Res 2013; 2:252. [PMID: 24715962 PMCID: PMC3962009 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.2-252.v2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficacy of neural stem/progenitor cell (NPC) therapies after cerebral ischaemia could be better evaluated by monitoring
in vivo migration and distribution of cells post-engraftment in parallel with analysis of lesion volume and functional recovery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is ideally placed to achieve this, but still poses several challenges. We show that combining the ferumoxide MRI contrast agent Endorem with protamine sulphate (FePro) improves iron oxide uptake in cells compared to Endorem alone and is non-toxic. Hence FePro complex is a better contrast agent than Endorem for monitoring NPCs. FePro complex-labelled NPCs proliferated and differentiated normally
in vitro, and upon grafting into the brain 48 hours post-ischaemia they were detected
in vivo by MRI. Imaging over four weeks showed the development of a confounding endogenous hypointense contrast evolution at later timepoints within the lesioned tissue. This was at least partly due to accumulation within the lesion of macrophages and endogenous iron. Neither significant NPC migration, assessed by MRI and histologically, nor a reduction in the ischaemic lesion volume was observed in NPC-grafted brains. Crucially, while MRI provides reliable information on engrafted cell location early after an ischaemic insult, pathophysiological changes to ischaemic lesions can interfere with cellular imaging at later timepoints.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachael A Panizzo
- Developmental Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK ; Imaging and Biophysics Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK ; UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Department of Medicine, University College London, London, WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - David G Gadian
- Imaging and Biophysics Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Developmental Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Jack A Wells
- UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Department of Medicine, University College London, London, WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Mark F Lythgoe
- Imaging and Biophysics Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK ; UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Department of Medicine, University College London, London, WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Patrizia Ferretti
- Developmental Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Macchiaroli A, Kelberman D, Auriemma RS, Drury S, Islam L, Giangiobbe S, Ironi G, Lench N, Sowden JC, Colao A, Pivonello R, Cavallo L, Gasperi M, Faienza MF. A novel heterozygous SOX2 mutation causing congenital bilateral anophthalmia, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and growth hormone deficiency. Gene 2013; 534:282-5. [PMID: 24211324 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.10.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Revised: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Heterozygous de novo mutations in SOX2 have been reported in approximately 10-20% of patients with unilateral or bilateral anophthalmia or microphthalmia. An additional phenotype of hypopituitarism, with anterior pituitary hypoplasia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, has been reported in patients carrying SOX2 alterations. We report a novel heterozygous mutation in the SOX2 gene in a male affected with congenital bilateral anophthalmia, hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and growth hormone deficiency. The mutation we describe is a cytosine deletion in position 905 (c905delC) which causes frameshift and an aberrant C-terminal domain. Our report highlights the fact that subjects affected with eye anomalies and harboring SOX2 mutations are at high risk for gonadotropin deficiency, which has important implications for their clinical management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Kelberman
- Ulverscroft Vision Research Group, Developmental Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Renata Simona Auriemma
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, Federico II University, Napoli, Italy
| | - Suzanne Drury
- NE Thames Regional Genetics Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Lily Islam
- Ulverscroft Vision Research Group, Developmental Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Sara Giangiobbe
- Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, "Cardarelli" Hospital, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Gabriele Ironi
- Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, "Cardarelli" Hospital, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Nicholas Lench
- NE Thames Regional Genetics Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Ulverscroft Vision Research Group, Developmental Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, Federico II University, Napoli, Italy
| | - Rosario Pivonello
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, Federico II University, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luciano Cavallo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Pediatrics, University "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Maurizio Gasperi
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Section of Endocrinology, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Maria Felicia Faienza
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Pediatrics, University "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Webb EA, AlMutair A, Kelberman D, Bacchelli C, Chanudet E, Lescai F, Andoniadou CL, Banyan A, Alsawaid A, Alrifai MT, Alahmesh MA, Balwi M, Mousavy-Gharavy SN, Lukovic B, Burke D, McCabe MJ, Kasia T, Kleta R, Stupka E, Beales PL, Thompson DA, Chong WK, Alkuraya FS, Martinez-Barbera JP, Sowden JC, Dattani MT. ARNT2 mutation causes hypopituitarism, post-natal microcephaly, visual and renal anomalies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 136:3096-105. [PMID: 24022475 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awt218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
We describe a previously unreported syndrome characterized by secondary (post-natal) microcephaly with fronto-temporal lobe hypoplasia, multiple pituitary hormone deficiency, seizures, severe visual impairment and abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract in a highly consanguineous family with six affected children. Homozygosity mapping and exome sequencing revealed a novel homozygous frameshift mutation in the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor gene ARNT2 (c.1373_1374dupTC) in affected individuals. This mutation results in absence of detectable levels of ARNT2 transcript and protein from patient fibroblasts compared with controls, consistent with nonsense-mediated decay of the mutant transcript and loss of ARNT2 function. We also show expression of ARNT2 within the central nervous system, including the hypothalamus, as well as the renal tract during human embryonic development. The progressive neurological abnormalities, congenital hypopituitarism and post-retinal visual pathway dysfunction in affected individuals demonstrates for the first time the essential role of ARNT2 in the development of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis, post-natal brain growth, and visual and renal function in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma A Webb
- 1 Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, UCL Institute of Child Health and Department of Endocrinology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Gonzalez-Cordero A, West EL, Pearson RA, Duran Y, Carvalho LS, Chu CJ, Naeem A, Blackford SJI, Georgiadis A, Lakowski J, Hubank M, Smith AJ, Bainbridge JWB, Sowden JC, Ali RR. Photoreceptor precursors derived from three-dimensional embryonic stem cell cultures integrate and mature within adult degenerate retina. Nat Biotechnol 2013. [PMID: 23873086 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2643]] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Irreversible blindness caused by loss of photoreceptors may be amenable to cell therapy. We previously demonstrated retinal repair and restoration of vision through transplantation of photoreceptor precursors obtained from postnatal retinas into visually impaired adult mice. Considerable progress has been made in differentiating embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro toward photoreceptor lineages. However, the capability of ESC-derived photoreceptors to integrate after transplantation has not been demonstrated unequivocally. Here, to isolate photoreceptor precursors fit for transplantation, we adapted a recently reported three-dimensional (3D) differentiation protocol that generates neuroretina from mouse ESCs. We show that rod precursors derived by this protocol and selected via a GFP reporter under the control of a Rhodopsin promoter integrate within degenerate retinas of adult mice and mature into outer segment-bearing photoreceptors. Notably, ESC-derived precursors at a developmental stage similar to postnatal days 4-8 integrate more efficiently compared with cells at other stages. This study shows conclusively that ESCs can provide a source of photoreceptors for retinal cell transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Emma L West
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Rachael A Pearson
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Yanai Duran
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Livia S Carvalho
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Colin J Chu
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Arifa Naeem
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Samuel J I Blackford
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Anastasios Georgiadis
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Jorn Lakowski
- Developmental Biology Unit, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Mike Hubank
- UCL Genomics, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Alexander J Smith
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - James W B Bainbridge
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Developmental Biology Unit, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK.,Molecular Immunology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Gonzalez-Cordero A, West EL, Pearson RA, Duran Y, Carvalho LS, Chu CJ, Naeem A, Blackford SJI, Georgiadis A, Lakowski J, Hubank M, Smith AJ, Bainbridge JWB, Sowden JC, Ali RR. Photoreceptor precursors derived from three-dimensional embryonic stem cell cultures integrate and mature within adult degenerate retina. Nat Biotechnol 2013. [PMID: 23873086 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2643].] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Irreversible blindness caused by loss of photoreceptors may be amenable to cell therapy. We previously demonstrated retinal repair and restoration of vision through transplantation of photoreceptor precursors obtained from postnatal retinas into visually impaired adult mice. Considerable progress has been made in differentiating embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro toward photoreceptor lineages. However, the capability of ESC-derived photoreceptors to integrate after transplantation has not been demonstrated unequivocally. Here, to isolate photoreceptor precursors fit for transplantation, we adapted a recently reported three-dimensional (3D) differentiation protocol that generates neuroretina from mouse ESCs. We show that rod precursors derived by this protocol and selected via a GFP reporter under the control of a Rhodopsin promoter integrate within degenerate retinas of adult mice and mature into outer segment-bearing photoreceptors. Notably, ESC-derived precursors at a developmental stage similar to postnatal days 4-8 integrate more efficiently compared with cells at other stages. This study shows conclusively that ESCs can provide a source of photoreceptors for retinal cell transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Emma L West
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Rachael A Pearson
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Yanai Duran
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Livia S Carvalho
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Colin J Chu
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Arifa Naeem
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Samuel J I Blackford
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Anastasios Georgiadis
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Jorn Lakowski
- Developmental Biology Unit, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Mike Hubank
- UCL Genomics, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Alexander J Smith
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - James W B Bainbridge
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK
| | - Jane C Sowden
- Developmental Biology Unit, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL UK.,Molecular Immunology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Boucherie C, Mukherjee S, Henckaerts E, Thrasher AJ, Sowden JC, Ali RR. Brief report: self-organizing neuroepithelium from human pluripotent stem cells facilitates derivation of photoreceptors. Stem Cells 2013; 31:408-14. [PMID: 23132794 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa, other inherited retinal diseases, and age-related macular degeneration lead to untreatable blindness because of the loss of photoreceptors. We have recently shown that transplantation of mouse photoreceptors can result in improved vision. It is therefore timely to develop protocols for efficient derivation of photoreceptors from human pluripotent stem (hPS) cells. Current methods for photoreceptor derivation from hPS cells require long periods of culture and are rather inefficient. Here, we report that formation of a transient self-organized neuroepithelium from human embryonic stem cells cultured together with extracellular matrix is sufficient to induce a rapid conversion into retinal progenitors in 5 days. These retinal progenitors have the ability to differentiate very efficiently into Crx(+) photoreceptor precursors after only 10 days and subsequently acquire rod photoreceptor identity within 4 weeks. Directed differentiation into photoreceptors using this protocol is also possible with human-induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells, facilitating the use of patient-specific hiPS cell lines for regenerative medicine and disease modeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Boucherie
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
West EL, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Hippert C, Osakada F, Martinez-Barbera JP, Pearson RA, Sowden JC, Takahashi M, Ali RR. Defining the integration capacity of embryonic stem cell-derived photoreceptor precursors. Stem Cells 2012; 30:1424-35. [PMID: 22570183 PMCID: PMC3580313 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Retinal degeneration is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the developed world. Differentiation of retinal cells, including photoreceptors, from both mouse and human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), potentially provide a renewable source of cells for retinal transplantation. Previously, we have shown both the functional integration of transplanted rod photoreceptor precursors, isolated from the postnatal retina, in the adult murine retina, and photoreceptor cell generation by stepwise treatment of ESCs with defined factors. In this study, we assessed the extent to which this protocol recapitulates retinal development and also evaluated differentiation and integration of ESC-derived retinal cells following transplantation using our established procedures. Optimized retinal differentiation via isolation of Rax.GFP retinal progenitors recreated a retinal niche and increased the yield of Crx(+) and Rhodopsin(+) photoreceptors. Rod birth peaked at day 20 of culture and expression of the early photoreceptor markers Crx and Nrl increased until day 28. Nrl levels were low in ESC-derived populations compared with developing retinae. Transplantation of early stage retinal cultures produced large tumors, which were avoided by prolonged retinal differentiation (up to day 28) prior to transplantation. Integrated mature photoreceptors were not observed in the adult retina, even when more than 60% of transplanted ESC-derived cells expressed Crx. We conclude that exclusion of proliferative cells from ESC-derived cultures is essential for effective transplantation. Despite showing expression profiles characteristic of immature photoreceptors, the ESC-derived precursors generated using this protocol did not display transplantation competence equivalent to precursors from the postnatal retina.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma L West
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Park S, Jamshidi Y, Vaideanu D, Fraser S, Sowden JC. Common TGFβ2, BMP4, and FOXC1 variants are not associated with primary open-angle glaucoma. Mol Vis 2012; 18:1526-39. [PMID: 22736943 PMCID: PMC3380945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2011] [Accepted: 06/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a common but complex disease with a strong genetic component. Notably, few genes have been robustly associated with POAG. An obvious group of genes to test as susceptibility factors for POAG are the developmental genes forkhead box C1 (FOXC1), transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGFβ2), and bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4). These genes are known to play important roles in the normal morphogenesis of the anterior segment and/or have been implicated in intra-ocular pressure (IOP) regulation and trabecular meshwork function. This study investigates the role of FOXC1, TGFβ2, and BMP4 in POAG. METHODS The contribution of common genetic variation at the FOXC1, TGFβ2, and BMP4 loci to risk of POAG was investigated in a case-control association study in 330 British Caucasian individuals comprised of 272 high-tension glaucoma (HTG) and 58 ocular hypertension (OHT), and 276 matched controls. RESULTS All the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and genotyping success rate was >92% for all SNPs. With the exception of a weak association between the BMP4 tagging SNP rs2761884 and the combined patient group HTG+OHT that did not withstand permutation testing (uncorrected p=0.0400, corrected p=0.1320), no associations (p<0.05) were identified between the patient groups (HTG and OHT) and FOXC1, TGFβ2, and BMP4 alleles and haplotypes compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS This is the first association analysis of FOXC1, TGFβ2, and BMP4 and POAG. These genes were selected as candidate genes for POAG because of their biologic roles. No significant associations were identified between FOXC1, TGFβ2, and BMP4 alleles and haplotypes and POAG. The lack of association suggests that common variation in these genes do not have a significant role in the pathogenesis of POAG among British Caucasian subjects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soo Park
- Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, UK,Developmental Biology Unit, University College London Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Yalda Jamshidi
- Human Genetics Research Centre, St George's University of London, UK
| | - Daniela Vaideanu
- Ophthalmology Department, Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Sunderland, UK
| | - Scott Fraser
- Ophthalmology Department, Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Sunderland, UK
| | - Jane C. Sowden
- Developmental Biology Unit, University College London Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Prasov L, Masud T, Khaliq S, Mehdi SQ, Abid A, Oliver ER, Silva ED, Lewanda A, Brodsky MC, Borchert M, Kelberman D, Sowden JC, Dattani MT, Glaser T. ATOH7 mutations cause autosomal recessive persistent hyperplasia of the primary vitreous. Hum Mol Genet 2012; 21:3681-94. [PMID: 22645276 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor ATOH7 (Math5) is specifically expressed in the embryonic neural retina and is required for the genesis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and optic nerves. In Atoh7 mutant mice, the absence of trophic factors secreted by RGCs prevents the development of the intrinsic retinal vasculature and the regression of fetal blood vessels, causing persistent hyperplasia of the primary vitreous (PHPV). We therefore screened patients with hereditary PHPV, as well as bilateral optic nerve aplasia (ONA) or hypoplasia (ONH), for mutations in ATOH7. We identified a homozygous ATOH7 mutation (N46H) in a large family with an autosomal recessive PHPV disease trait linked to 10q21, and a heterozygous variant (R65G, p.Arg65Gly) in one of five sporadic ONA patients. High-density single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis also revealed a CNTN4 duplication and an OTX2 deletion in the ONA cohort. Functional analysis of ATOH7 bHLH domain substitutions, by electrophoretic mobility shift and luciferase cotransfection assays, revealed that the N46H variant cannot bind DNA or activate transcription, consistent with structural modeling. The N46H variant also failed to rescue RGC development in mouse Atoh7-/- retinal explants. The R65G variant retains all of these activities, similar to wild-type human ATOH7. Our results strongly suggest that autosomal recessive persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous is caused by N46H and is etiologically related to nonsyndromic congenital retinal nonattachment. The R65G allele, however, cannot explain the ONA phenotype. Our study firmly establishes ATOH7 as a retinal disease gene and provides a functional basis to analyze new coding variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lev Prasov
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Lange CAK, Luhmann UFO, Mowat FM, Georgiadis A, West EL, Abrahams S, Sayed H, Powner MB, Fruttiger M, Smith AJ, Sowden JC, Maxwell PH, Ali RR, Bainbridge JWB. Von Hippel-Lindau protein in the RPE is essential for normal ocular growth and vascular development. Development 2012; 139:2340-50. [PMID: 22627278 DOI: 10.1242/dev.070813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Molecular oxygen is essential for the development, growth and survival of multicellular organisms. Hypoxic microenvironments and oxygen gradients are generated physiologically during embryogenesis and organogenesis. In the eye, oxygen plays a crucial role in both physiological vascular development and common blinding diseases. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a monolayer of cells essential for normal ocular development and in the mature retina provides support for overlying photoreceptors and their vascular supply. Hypoxia at the level of the RPE is closely implicated in pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. Adaptive tissue responses to hypoxia are orchestrated by sophisticated oxygen sensing mechanisms. In particular, the von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor protein (pVhl) controls hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF)-mediated adaptation. However, the role of Vhl/Hif1a in the RPE in the development of the eye and its vasculature is unknown. In this study we explored the function of Vhl and Hif1a in the developing RPE using a tissue-specific conditional-knockout approach. We found that deletion of Vhl in the RPE results in RPE apoptosis, aniridia and microphthalmia. Increased levels of Hif1a, Hif2a, Epo and Vegf are associated with a highly disorganised retinal vasculature, chorioretinal anastomoses and the persistence of embryonic vascular structures into adulthood. Additional inactivation of Hif1a in the RPE rescues the RPE morphology, aniridia, microphthalmia and anterior vasoproliferation, but does not rescue retinal vasoproliferation. These data demonstrate that Vhl-dependent regulation of Hif1a in the RPE is essential for normal RPE and iris development, ocular growth and vascular development in the anterior chamber, whereas Vhl-dependent regulation of other downstream pathways is crucial for normal development and maintenance of the retinal vasculature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clemens A K Lange
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Lakowski J, Han YT, Pearson RA, Gonzalez-Cordero A, West EL, Gualdoni S, Barber AC, Hubank M, Ali RR, Sowden JC. Effective transplantation of photoreceptor precursor cells selected via cell surface antigen expression. Stem Cells 2012; 29:1391-404. [PMID: 21774040 DOI: 10.1002/stem.694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases are a major cause of untreatable blindness. Stem cell therapy to replace lost photoreceptors represents a feasible future treatment. We previously demonstrated that postmitotic photoreceptor precursors expressing an NrlGFP transgene integrate into the diseased retina and restore some light sensitivity. As genetic modification of precursor cells derived from stem cell cultures is not desirable for therapy, we have tested cell selection strategies using fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies recognizing cell surface antigens to sort photoreceptor precursors. Microarray analysis of postnatal NrlGFP-expressing precursors identified four candidate genes encoding cell surface antigens (Nt5e, Prom1, Podxl, and Cd24a). To test the feasibility of using donor cells isolated using cell surface markers for retinal therapy, cells selected from developing retinae by fluorescence-activated cell sorting based on Cd24a expression (using CD24 antibody) and/or Nt5e expression (using CD73 antibody) were transplanted into the wild-type or Crb1(rd8/rd8) or Prph2(rd2/rd2) mouse eye. The CD73/CD24-sorted cells migrated into the outer nuclear layer, acquired the morphology of mature photoreceptors and expressed outer segment markers. They showed an 18-fold higher integration efficiency than that of unsorted cells and 2.3-fold higher than cells sorted based on a single genetic marker, NrlGFP, expression. These proof-of-principle studies show that transplantation competent photoreceptor precursor cells can be efficiently isolated from a heterogeneous mix of cells using cell surface antigens without loss of viability for the purpose of retinal stem cell therapy. Refinement of the selection of donorphotoreceptor precursor cells can increase the number of integrated photoreceptor cells,which is a prerequisite for the restoration of sight.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Lakowski
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Webb TR, Matarin M, Gardner JC, Kelberman D, Hassan H, Ang W, Michaelides M, Ruddle JB, Pennell CE, Yazar S, Khor CC, Aung T, Yogarajah M, Robson AG, Holder GE, Cheetham ME, Traboulsi EI, Moore AT, Sowden JC, Sisodiya SM, Mackey DA, Tuft SJ, Hardcastle AJ. X-linked megalocornea caused by mutations in CHRDL1 identifies an essential role for ventroptin in anterior segment development. Am J Hum Genet 2012; 90:247-59. [PMID: 22284829 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Revised: 12/07/2011] [Accepted: 12/26/2011] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
X-linked megalocornea (MGC1) is an ocular anterior segment disorder characterized by an increased cornea diameter and deep anterior chamber evident at birth and later onset of mosaic corneal degeneration (shagreen), arcus juvenilis, and presenile cataracts. We identified copy-number variation, frameshift, missense, splice-site and nonsense mutations in the Chordin-like 1 gene (CHRDL1) on Xq23 as the cause of the condition in seven MGC1 families. CHRDL1 encodes ventroptin, a bone morphogenic protein antagonist with a proposed role in specification of topographic retinotectal projections. Electrophysiological evaluation revealed mild generalized cone system dysfunction and, in one patient, an interhemispheric asymmetry in visual evoked potentials. We show that CHRDL1 is expressed in the developing human cornea and anterior segment in addition to the retina. We explored the impact of loss of ventroptin function on brain function and morphology in vivo. CHRDL1 is differentially expressed in the human fetal brain, and there is high expression in cerebellum and neocortex. We show that MGC1 patients have a superior cognitive ability despite a striking focal loss of myelination of white matter. Our findings reveal an unexpected requirement for ventroptin during anterior segment development and the consequences of a lack of function in the retina and brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom R Webb
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
West EL, Pearson RA, Duran Y, Gonzalez-Cordero A, MacLaren RE, Smith AJ, Sowden JC, Ali RR. Manipulation of the recipient retinal environment by ectopic expression of neurotrophic growth factors can improve transplanted photoreceptor integration and survival. Cell Transplant 2012; 21:871-87. [PMID: 22325046 DOI: 10.3727/096368911x623871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Degeneration of the neural retina is the leading cause of untreatable blindness in the developed world. Stem cell replacement therapy offers a novel strategy for retinal repair. Postmitotic photoreceptor precursors derived from the early postnatal (P) retina are able to migrate and integrate into the adult mouse retina following transplantation into the subretinal space, but it is likely that a large number of these cells would be required to restore vision. The adult recipient retina presents a very different environment to that from which photoreceptor precursor donor cells isolated from the developing postnatal retina are derived. Here we considered the possibility that modulation of the recipient environment by ectopic expression of developmentally regulated growth factors, normally present during photoreceptor development, might enhance the migration and integration of transplanted cells into the adult neural retina. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors were used to introduce three growth factors previously reported to play a role in photoreceptor development, IGF1, FGF2, and CNTF, into the adult retina, prior to transplantation of P4 cells derived from the Nrl.GFP(+ve) neural retina. At 3 weeks posttransplantation the number of integrated, differentiated photoreceptor cells present in AAV-mediated neurotrophic factor-treated eyes was assessed and compared to control treated contralateral eyes. We show, firstly, that it is possible to manipulate the recipient retinal microenvironment via rAAV-mediated gene transfer with respect to these developmentally relevant growth factors. Moreover, when combined with cell transplantation, AAV-mediated expression of IGF1 led to significantly increased levels of cell integration, while overexpression of FGF2 had no significant effect on integrated cell number. Conversely, expression of CNTF led to a significant decrease in cell integration and an exacerbated glial response that led to glial scarring. Together, these findings demonstrate the importance of the extrinsic environment of the recipient retina for photoreceptor cell transplantation and show for the first time that it is possible to manipulate this environment using viral vectors to influence photoreceptor transplantation efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E L West
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Shah SP, Taylor AE, Sowden JC, Ragge N, Russell-Eggitt I, Rahi JS, Gilbert CE. Anophthalmos, microphthalmos, and Coloboma in the United kingdom: clinical features, results of investigations, and early management. Ophthalmology 2012; 119:362-8. [PMID: 22054996 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2011.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2011] [Revised: 07/11/2011] [Accepted: 07/21/2011] [Indexed: 10/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe the clinical features of children with anophthalmos, microphthalmos, and typical coloboma (AMC). DESIGN Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study of the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS A total of 135 children with AMC newly diagnosed over an 18-month period beginning in October 2006. METHODS Cases were identified using active surveillance through an established ophthalmic surveillance system. Eligible cases were followed up 6 months after first notification. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Phenotypic characteristics, both ocular and systemic, clinical investigations, causes, and interventions. RESULTS A total of 210 eyes (of 135 children) were affected by AMC, of which 153 had isolated coloboma or coloboma with microphthalmos. The most common colobomatous anomaly was a chorioretinal defect present in 109 eyes (71.2%). Some 44% of children were bilaterally visually impaired. Systemic abnormalities were present in 59.7% of children, with craniofacial anomalies being the most common. Children with bilateral disease had a 2.7 times higher odds (95% confidence interval, 1.3-5.5, P = 0.006) of having systemic involvement than unilaterally affected children. Neurologic imaging was the most frequent investigation (58.5%) performed. Less than one third (30.3%) of the children with microphthalmos had ocular axial lengths measured. Eight children had confirmed genetic mutations. Approximately half (49.2%) of the children required ocular intervention. CONCLUSIONS Colobomatous defects were the most common phenotype within this spectrum of anomalies in the United Kingdom. The high frequency of posterior segment colobomatous involvement means that a dilated fundal examination should be made in all cases. The significant visual and systemic morbidity in affected children underlines the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaheen P Shah
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Gualdoni S, Baron M, Lakowski J, Decembrini S, Pearson RA, Ali RR, Sowden JC. Isolation and Culture of Adult Ciliary Epithelial Cells, Previously Identified as Retinal Stem Cells, and Retinal Progenitor Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; Chapter 1:Unit 1H.4. [DOI: 10.1002/9780470151808.sc01h04s19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gualdoni
- Developmental Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London London United Kingdom
| | - Michael Baron
- Developmental Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London London United Kingdom
| | - Jörn Lakowski
- Developmental Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London London United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Decembrini
- Developmental Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London London United Kingdom
| | - Rachel A. Pearson
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London London United Kingdom
| | - Robin R. Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London London United Kingdom
| | - Jane C. Sowden
- Developmental Biology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London London United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Abstract
The discovery of methods to produce pluripotent stem cells from human skin cells and other adult tissues has created a new era in stem cell research. In this article, we discuss the generation and use of pluripotent stem cells for the study of retinal disorders and the development of cell-based therapies. We describe advances in protocols for differentiating pluripotent cells into photoreceptor precursors that might be suitable for transplantation and discuss the use of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived photoreceptors for disease modeling and drug screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Boucherie
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Kelberman D, Islam L, Holder SE, Jacques TS, Calvas P, Hennekam RC, Nischal KK, Sowden JC. Digenic inheritance of mutations in FOXC1 and PITX2 : correlating transcription factor function and Axenfeld-Rieger disease severity. Hum Mutat 2011; 32:1144-52. [PMID: 21837767 DOI: 10.1002/humu.21550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2011] [Accepted: 05/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Disease-causing mutations affecting either one of the transcription factor genes, PITX2 or FOXC1, have been previously identified in patients with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome (AR). We identified a family who segregate novel mutations in both PITX2 (p.Ser233Leu) and FOXC1 (c.609delC). The most severely affected individual, who presented with an atypical phenotype of corneal opacification, lens extrusion, persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV), and subsequent bilateral retinal detachment, inherited mutations in both genes, whereas the single heterozygous mutations caused mild AR phenotypes. This is the first report of such digenic inheritance. By analyzing cognate targets of each gene, we showed that FOXC1 and PITX2 can independently regulate their own and each other's target gene promoters and do not show synergistic action in vitro. Mutation in either gene caused reduced transcriptional activation to different extents on the FOXO1 and PLOD1 promoters, whereas both mutations in combination showed the lowest level of activation. These data show how the compensatory activity of one factor, when the other is impaired, may lessen the phenotypic impact of developmental anomalies, yet reduced activity of both transcription factors increased disease severity. This suggests an under-reported mechanism for phenotypic variability whereby single mutations cause mild AR phenotypes, whereas digenic inheritance increases phenotypic severity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kelberman
- Ulverscroft Vision Research Group, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Kelberman D, Islam L, Jacques TS, Russell-Eggitt I, Bitner-Glindzicz M, Khaw PT, Nischal KK, Sowden JC. CYP1B1-Related Anterior Segment Developmental Anomalies. Ophthalmology 2011; 118:1865-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2011.01.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2010] [Revised: 01/12/2011] [Accepted: 01/14/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
|
47
|
West EL, Pearson RA, Barker SE, Luhmann UFO, Maclaren RE, Barber AC, Duran Y, Smith AJ, Sowden JC, Ali RR. Long-term survival of photoreceptors transplanted into the adult murine neural retina requires immune modulation. Stem Cells 2011; 28:1997-2007. [PMID: 20857496 DOI: 10.1002/stem.520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Stem cell therapy presents an opportunity to replace photoreceptors that are lost as a result of inherited and age-related degenerative disease. We have previously shown that murine postmitotic rod photoreceptor precursor cells, identified by expression of the rod-specific transcription factor Nrl, are able to migrate into and integrate within the adult murine neural retina. However, their long-term survival has yet to be determined. Here, we found that integrated Nrl.gfp(+ve) photoreceptors were present up to 12 months post-transplantation, albeit in significantly reduced numbers. Surviving cells had rod-like morphology, including inner/outer segments and spherule synapses. In a minority of eyes, we observed an early, marked reduction in integrated photoreceptors within 1 month post-transplantation, which correlated with increased numbers of amoeboid macrophages, indicating acute loss of transplanted cells due to an inflammatory response. In the majority of transplants, similar numbers of integrated cells were observed between 1 and 2 months post-transplantation. By 4 months, however, we observed a significant decrease in integrated cell survival. Macrophages and T cells were present around the transplantation site, indicating a chronic immune response. Immune suppression of recipients significantly increased transplanted photoreceptor survival, indicating that the loss observed in unsuppressed recipients resulted from T cell-mediated host immune responses. Thus, if immune responses are modulated, correctly integrated transplanted photoreceptors can survive for extended periods of time in hosts with partially mismatched H-2 haplotypes. These findings suggest that autologous donor cells are optimal for therapeutic approaches to repair the neural retina, though with immune suppression nonautologous donors may be effective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma L West
- Department of Genetics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Shah SP, Taylor AE, Sowden JC, Ragge NK, Russell-Eggitt I, Rahi JS, Gilbert CE. Anophthalmos, microphthalmos, and typical coloboma in the United Kingdom: a prospective study of incidence and risk. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2011; 52:558-64. [PMID: 20574025 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.10-5263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Anophthalmos, microphthalmos, and typical coloboma (AMC) form an interrelated spectrum of congenital eye anomalies that can cause significant visual loss and cosmetic disfigurement in children. This prospective study of children born in the United Kingdom was undertaken to determine the incidence of AMC diagnosed by ophthalmologists and to explore sociodemographic risks. METHODS Recruitment was achieved though an established active surveillance system of U.K. ophthalmologists supported by a new research network of interested specialists, the Surveillance of Eye Anomalies (SEA-UK) Special Interest Group. It started October 1, 2006, and continued over 18 months. RESULTS One hundred thirty-five children were newly diagnosed with AMC. Typical colobomatous defects were the commonest phenotype, and anophthalmos was rare (n = 7). Both eyes were affected in 55.5% of the children. The cumulative incidence of AMC by age 16 years was 11.9 per 100,000 (95% CI, 10.9-15.4). Of the children examined, 41.5% had not seen an ophthalmologist by 3 months of age. The incidence in Scotland was nearly double that in England and Wales. The children of Pakistani ethnicity had a 3.7 (95% CI, 1.9-7.5) times higher risk of AMC than did white children. There was some evidence to suggest a higher incidence in the more socioeconomically deprived. The sibling risk ratio was 210 (95% CI, 25-722). CONCLUSIONS This is the first prospective study of AMC, and it establishes the frequency across the United Kingdom. Comparisons with data quoted in the literature are difficult because study methodologies differ, but the frequency appears to be lower than that quoted for other developed countries. There are geographic and ethnic variations in incidence that warrant further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaheen P Shah
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
|
50
|
Decembrini S, Cananzi M, Gualdoni S, Battersby A, Allen N, Pearson RA, Ali RR, De Coppi P, Sowden JC. Comparative analysis of the retinal potential of embryonic stem cells and amniotic fluid-derived stem cells. Stem Cells Dev 2010; 20:851-63. [PMID: 20939691 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2010.0291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptors have recently been generated from mouse and human embryonic stem cells (ESCs), although ethics concerns impede their utilization for cell replacement therapy for retinal disease. Extra-embryonic tissues have received attention as alternative therapeutic sources of stem cells. Human and mouse amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (AFCs) have been reported to be multipotent and express embryonic and adult stem cell markers. Here, in vitro conditions that generate retinal cells from ESCs were used to analyze and compare the retinal potential of murine AFCs and ESCs. We show that AFCs express pluripotency markers (Nanog, Sox2, and Oct3/4) as well as retinal transcription factor genes (Et, Lhx2, Tll1, Six6, Otx2, Pax6, and Fgf15). AFCs from amniotic fluid of Fgf15.gfp, Nrl.gfp, and Crx.gfp embryos cultured in retinal proliferation and differentiation conditions failed to switch on these retinal transgenes. AFCs cultured in retinal-promoting conditions, effective on ESCs, showed reduced expression of retinal markers. Retinal co-cultures activated retinal genes in ESCs but not in AFCs, and migration assays in retinal explants showed limited migration of AFCs compared with ESCs. Unlike ESCs, AFCs do not express the early embryonic ectodermal gene Utf1 and Western analysis of AFCs identified only the B isoform of Oct3/4, rather than the isoform A present in ESCs. We conclude that AFCs have restricted potential and differ considerably from ESCs and retinal progenitor cells. Reprogramming to induce pluripotency or new differentiation protocols will be required to confer retinal potential to AFCs as expression of a subset of pluripotency and retinal markers is not sufficient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Decembrini
- UCL Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|