Abstract
Presentation Description :
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the projection neurons of the retina that serve as the connection between the eye and the brain. In this role, they allow for the transmission of visual information, with damage to this pathway in injury or disease leading to vision loss or blindness. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can serve as powerful in vitro models for the study of retinal development and disease, with previous studies demonstrating the ability to model several aspects of RGC neurodegeneration in vitro. However, these studies have not focused upon the role of mitochondria in these processes, nor how disease states may alter properties of mitochondria. Thus, to address these shortcomings and to better understand how mitochondria are adversely affected in RGC neurodegenerative disease states, we have developed novel models of hPSC-derived RGCs and assessed how disease states may result in the dysfunction of mitochondria. Moreover, we have also analyzed how relevant glial cells may also be subject to mitochondrial dysfunction and assessed how dysfunctional glial cells may further exacerbate RGC neurodegeneration in disease states. Taken together, the results of our studies reveal a profound dysfunction of mitochondria in disease states, and underscore the importance for future studies to more precisely elucidate the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegeneration.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.