The Developmental Stage of Adult Human Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells Influences Transplant Efficacy for Vision Rescue

作者：Davis Richard J; Alam Nazia M; Zhao Cuiping; Mueller Claudia; Saini Janmeet S; Blenkinsop Timothy A; Mazzoni Francesca; Campbell Melissa; Borden Susan M; Charniga Carol J; Lederman Patty L; Aguilar Vanessa; Naimark Michael; Fiske Michael; Boles Nathan; Temple Sally; Finnemann Silvia C; Prusky Glen T; Stern Jeffrey H^*

来源：Stem Cell Reports, 2017, 9(1): 42-49.

DOI：10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.05.016

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of central visual loss in the elderly. Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell loss occurs early in the course of AMD and RPE cell transplantation holds promise to slow disease progression. We report that subretinal transplantation of RPE stem cell (RPESC)-derived RPE cells (RPESC-RPE) preserved vision in a rat model of RPE cell dysfunction. Importantly, the stage of differentiation that RPESC-RPE acquired prior to transplantation influenced the efficacy of vision rescue. Whereas cells at all stages of differentiation tested rescued photoreceptor layer morphology, an intermediate stage of RPESC-RPE differentiation obtained after 4 weeks of culture was more consistent at vision rescue than progeny that were differentiated for 2 weeks or 8 weeks of culture. Our results indicate that the developmental stage of RPESC-RPE significantly influences the efficacy of RPE cell replacement, which affects the therapeutic application of these cells for AMD.

• 出版日期2017-7-11