Dental pulp stem cells differentiation into retinal ganglion-like cells in a three dimensional network

作者：Roozafzoon Reza; Lashay Alireza; Vasei Mohammad^*; Ai Jafar; Khoshzaban Ahad; Keshel Saeed Heidari; Barabadi Zahra; Bahrami Hoda

来源：Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2015, 457(2): 154-160.

DOI：10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.12.069

• Retinal ganglion cells
• Tissue engineering
• Dental pulp stem cells
• Three-dimensional networks

The loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in majority of retinal degenerative diseases is the first seen pathological event. A lot of studies aim to discover suitable cell sources to replace lost and damaged RGCs. Among them dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have a great potential of differentiating into neuronal lineages as well as RGCs. Moreover, three-dimensional (3D) networks and its distribution for growing and differentiation of stem cells as much as possible mimic to native tissue holds great potential in retinal tissue engineering. In this study, we isolate DPSCs from rat incisors and validate them with flow cytometry. Briefly, we differentiated cells using DMEM/F12 containing FGF2, Shh and 0.5% FBS into retinal ganglion-like cells (RGLCs) in two conditions; 3D state in biocompatible fibrin hydrogel and two-dimensional (2D) or conventional culture in polystyrene plates. Immuncytochemical and gene expression analysis revealed the expression of PaxG, Atoh7 and BRN3B increased in 3D fibrin culture compared to 2D conventional culture. In combination, these data demonstrate that using 3D networks can resemble near natural tissue properties for effective generating RGCs which used to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma.

• 出版日期2015-2-6