Abstract
Purpose: :
Reports showed that neural progenitor cells derived from developing human cortex promote long-term preservation of vision after subretinal transplantation in the RCS rat.The purpose of this study is to characterize human induced pluripotent stem cells derived neural progenitor cells for further subretinal transplantation.
Methods: :
Neural progenitor cells were induced by two different methods. One method employed traditional neural progenitor cells (NPC) generated by selective culture of iPScells in neural progenitor medium. Another group generated retinal neural progenitor cells followed "retinal determination" protocol as generating stem cells derived RPE. Special markers of inner retinal neurons and photoreceptor were detected by immunohistochemistry, western blot and RT-PCR.
Results: :
Two types of neuronal progenitor cells expressed neuronal markers. NPCs harvested by "retinal determination" protocol expressed markers of retinal neurons and photoreceptors. The expression of these genes were confirmed by PCR for recoverin, Rhodopsin, NF-2000, nestin, GFAP and PAX-6.
Conclusions: :
Neural progenitor cells derived from stem cell "retinal determination" protocol might be better candidates for further subretinal transplantation.
Keywords: transplantation • age-related macular degeneration • photoreceptors