July 2018
Volume 59, Issue 9
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   July 2018
Transcriptomic analysis of retinal organoids from human pluripotent stem cells
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Melissa Kaye Jones
    Shiley Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
  • Anna R Ogata
    Shiley Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
  • Fei Su
    Shiley Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
  • Bolin Chen
    Shiley Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
  • Justin Seid
    Shiley Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
  • Karl Wahlin
    Shiley Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Melissa Jones, None; Anna Ogata, None; Fei Su, None; Bolin Chen, None; Justin Seid, None; Karl Wahlin, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science July 2018, Vol.59, 574. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Melissa Kaye Jones, Anna R Ogata, Fei Su, Bolin Chen, Justin Seid, Karl Wahlin; Transcriptomic analysis of retinal organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2018;59(9):574.

      Download citation file:


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

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose : The use of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) to study human eye development and disease has been facilitated by new gene editing technologies that enable tracking of cells during development and the course of degeneration. The differentiation of human PSCs into three-dimensional organoids using reporter cells allows for the study of human retinogenesis in real time. Although the molecular events underlying this process is not yet complete, cell fate specification and maturation follows a sequential time course with some known markers for retinal progenitor cells. Markers for retinal progenitors, including Six6 and Vsx2, that appear at different stages of development could be used to further elucidate the onset of retinal induction and cell fate commitment. Transcriptomic analysis of key developmental time-points could also aid in the identification of additional biomarkers.

Methods : The CRISPR-Cas9 system was used to create a Six6-GFP and Vsx2-Tomato dual reporter. hPSCs were transfected and genotyped for the Six6-GFP and Vsx2-Tomato constructs. hPSCs were differentiated into three-dimensional organoids, and selected for Six6-GFP and Vsx2-Tomato positivity. Organoids were collected at different time-points during development, and transcriptomic studies were performed.

Results : Organoids expressed GFP+ and Tomato+ signals indicating expression of Six6 and/or Vsx2 during development. Transcriptomic analysis identified gene expression changes that occur during the transition of an early Six6-GFP+ eye field progenitor to a Vsx2-Tomato+ retinal progenitor. Bioinformatic analysis identified signaling pathways that may play a role in retinal differentiation.

Conclusions : A dual reporter for Six6 and Vsx2 expression in three-dimensional retinal organoids was developed. Key gene expression changes occur with retinal induction and maturation. In addition, signaling pathways that play roles in retinal differentiation were identified. Further analyses of these mechanisms will lead to better understanding of gene regulation during retinal development.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.

×
×

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.

×