@article{10.1167/iovs.16-20738,
    author = {Petrus-Reurer, Sandra and Bartuma, Hammurabi and Aronsson, Monica and Westman, Sofie and Lanner, Fredrik and André, Helder and Kvanta, Anders},
    title = "{Integration of Subretinal Suspension Transplants of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells in a Large-Eyed Model of Geographic Atrophy}",
    journal = {Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science},
    volume = {58},
    number = {2},
    pages = {1314-1322},
    year = {2017},
    month = {02},
    abstract = "{   Subretinal suspension transplants of human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells (hESC-RPE) have the capacity to form functional monolayers in naive eyes. We explore hESC-RPE integration when transplanted in suspension to a large-eyed model of geographic atrophy (GA).    Derivation of hESC-RPE was performed in a xeno-free and defined manner. Subretinal bleb injection of PBS or sodium iodate (NaIO3) was used to induce a GA-like phenotype. Suspensions of hESC-RPE were transplanted to the subretinal space of naive or PBS-/NaIO3-treated rabbits using a transvitreal pars plana technique. Integration of hESC-RPE was monitored by multimodal real-time imaging and by immunohistochemistry.    Subretinal blebs of PBS or NaIO3 caused different degrees of outer neuroretinal degeneration, RPE hyperautofluorescence, focal RPE loss, and choroidal atrophy; that is, hallmark characteristics of GA. In nonpretreated naive eyes, hESC-RPE integrated as subretinal monolayers with preserved overlying photoreceptors, yet not in areas with outer neuroretinal degeneration and native RPE loss. When transplanted to eyes with PBS-/NaIO3-induced degeneration, hESC-RPE failed to integrate.    In a large-eyed preclinical model, subretinal suspension transplants of hESC-RPE did not integrate in areas with GA-like degeneration.  }",
    issn = {1552-5783},
    doi = {10.1167/iovs.16-20738},
    url = {https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.16-20738},
    eprint = {https://arvojournals.org/arvo/content\_public/journal/iovs/936033/i1552-5783-58-2-1314.pdf},
}