May 2007
Volume 48, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2007
Very Small Embryonic-Like Cells (VSELs) - A New Type of Ocular Stem Cell?
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • L. Gao
    University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
    Department of Ophthalmology,
  • M. Kucia
    University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
    Stem Cell Program, Brown Cancer Center,
  • M. Ratajczak
    University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
    Stem Cell Program, Brown Cancer Center,
  • D. Dean
    University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
    Department of Ophthalmology,
  • H. Kaplan
    University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
    Department of Ophthalmology,
  • V. Enzmann
    University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
    Department of Ophthalmology,
    Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships L. Gao, None; M. Kucia, None; M. Ratajczak, None; D. Dean, None; H. Kaplan, None; V. Enzmann, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support Research Prevent Blindness Inc., New York; Kentucky Research Trust Challenge Fund (HJK)
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2007, Vol.48, 4084. doi:
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      L. Gao, M. Kucia, M. Ratajczak, D. Dean, H. Kaplan, V. Enzmann; Very Small Embryonic-Like Cells (VSELs) - A New Type of Ocular Stem Cell?. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2007;48(13):4084.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose:: To investigate the presence of very small embryonic-like cells (VSELs) in the mouse retina and if there are differences during development of the retina.

Methods:: Single cells were isolated from both the neurosensory retina (NSR) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from newborn and 3-week-old C57BL/6 adult mice. The tissues were enzymatically digested using papain dissociation system, for the NSR, and dispase + trypsin, for the RPE. Small sized (2~6µm) Sca1+Lin- CD45- cells were sorted by FACS and the expression of embryonic stem cell markers (i.e. Nanog, Rex1, Rif1, Dppa1, Utf1, Tdgf1) was analyzed by real-time PCR. These cells meet the criteria for VSELs.

Results:: We found small size (2~6 µm) Sca1+Lin- CD45- cells in both the NSR and RPE from new-born C57BL/6 mice, but mainly in the RPE of 3-week-old C57BL/6 adult mice. The number of these VSELs cells was significantly higher in Sca-1+Lin-CD45- population than in Sca-1- Lin- CD45- cells. The expression of embryonic cell markers on the Sca-1+Lin- CD45- cells is similar to VSELs identified in adult mouse bone marrow. Additionally, purified Sca1+Lin- CD45- cells from the retina expressed Oct-4 mRNA using One Step RT-PCR.

Conclusions:: We have identified VSELs in the developing mouse retina both in the NSR and RPE. VSELs appear to become restrict to the RPE by 3 weeks of age. The latter may serve as resource pool for stem cells in the adult eye and be useful for cell replacement therapy in the ocular disease.

Keywords: retinal culture 
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