May 2005
Volume 46, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2005
Localization of Müller Glia With Neural Stem Cell Characteristics in the Adult Human Retina
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • G.A. Limb
    Divisions of Cell Biology and Pathology,
    Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
  • J.M. Lawrence
    Division of Pathology,
    Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
  • T.A. Reh
    Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
  • P.T. Khaw
    Division of Pathology,
    Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  G.A. Limb, None; J.M. Lawrence, None; T.A. Reh, None; P.T. Khaw, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  Wellcome Trust, MRC, Helen Hamlyn Trust, UK
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2005, Vol.46, 3231. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      G.A. Limb, J.M. Lawrence, T.A. Reh, P.T. Khaw; Localization of Müller Glia With Neural Stem Cell Characteristics in the Adult Human Retina . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2005;46(13):3231.

      Download citation file:


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

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To identify the localization of Müller glia with stem cell characteristics in the adult human neural retina and to determine the pluripotent ability of these cells to de–differentiate in vitro as a true stem cell population. Methods: Frozen sections of cadaveric donor retinae from 4 donors 50–83 years old, consented for research and obtained from Moorfield’s Eye Hospital Eye Bank, were analysed by confocal microscopy for co–expression of the Müller cell markers CRALBP or nestin, and markers of progenitor cells of the embryonic neuroepithelium and developing retina, including Sox–2, Chx10, Pax–6 and Shh. Müller cells were also isolated from the neural retina after removal of the ciliary body and clones derived from single cells were examined for expression of progenitor markers, self–renewal and pluripotent abilities. Results: Examination of the neural retina up to a distance of 2–2.5 cm from the ciliary body showed that a population of cells with characteristic Müller cell morphology that expressed CRALBP or nestin, also expressed the neural progenitor markers Sox–2, Chx10 and Pax–6, as well as Shh, a marker of ganglion cells in the developing retina. The frequency of Müller cells co–expressing these markers was higher in the peripheral retina (2–5% of cells in the INL) than in the central retina (1–2% of cells in the INL). Müller cells expressing progenitor markers were spontaneously immortalized in vitro and displayed true multipotent stem cell characteristics as demonstrated by their self–renewal ability and their capacity to de–differentiate into neurospheres and to generate different types of retinal neurons. Conclusions: We showed that a population of Müller cells from the adult human retina that exhibit markers of neural stem cells and retinal progenitors in situ, are found widespread distributed throughout the neural retina. These cells can be easily characterized and maintained indefinitely in vitro, suggesting that they could be potentially used for cell–based therapies to treat or prevent retinal disease.

Keywords: Muller cells • retina • retinal culture 
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×