Effect of Dendritic Cells on the Retinal Progenitor Cells in vitro and in Co–Culture With Retinal Explant

Abstract

Purpose: : To examine the effect of bone marrow cell (BMC) derived immature dendritic cells (iDCs) on the retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) in vitro and ex vivo transplantation (co–culture with retinal explant).

Methods: : RPCs were collected from green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice. BMC were collected from 6 week rd1 mice. 1) We studied the effects of iDCs or BMCs on RPCs in vitro. 2) We co–cultured RPCs, iDCs, RPCs+iDCs, or none (control) with explanted retinas from 6 week rd1 mice. The explants were kept for 2 weeks and were processed for histological study. 3) We also examined the effect of iDCs on T cell activation induced by RPCs from a different mouse strain by evluating CD107a expression by CD8 T cells.

Results: : In vitro, iDCs but not BMCs enhanced the survival and proliferation of RPCs in DMEM/F12 with no supplement. With N2 supplement and bFGF, iDCs or its supernatant induced prominent differentiation in the RPCs but this effect was not observed with BMCs. 2) Retinal explants cultured with RPCs+iDCs or with iDCs better retained the thickness and organized structure of retina compared to the controls. Some of the RPCs extended neurites into the explanted retina when co–cultured with iDCs. 3) iDC reduced the activation of CD8 T cells induced by RPCs to the background level.

Conclusions: : These results suggested the preferable effects of the use of iDCs in RPC transplantation in retinal degenerative diseases.

Keywords: regeneration • transplantation