Open AccessGeneration of Highly Enriched Populations of Optic Vesicle−Like Retinal Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Author(s) -
Ohlemacher Sarah K.,
Iglesias Clara L.,
Sridhar Akshayalakshmi,
Gamm David M.,
Meyer Jason S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
current protocols in stem cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.658
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1938-8969
pISSN - 1941-7322
DOI - 10.1002/9780470151808.sc01h08s32
Subject(s) - biology , induced pluripotent stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , stem cell , retinal , human induced pluripotent stem cells , retina , vesicle , embryonic stem cell , neuroscience , biochemistry , gene , membrane
The protocol outlined below is used to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into retinal cell types through a process that faithfully recapitulates the stepwise progression observed in vivo. From pluripotency, cells are differentiated to a primitive anterior neural fate, followed by progression into two distinct populations of retinal progenitors and forebrain progenitors, each of which can be manually separated and purified. The hPSC‐derived retinal progenitors are found to self‐organize into three‐dimensional optic vesicle−like structures, with each aggregate possessing the ability to differentiate into all major retinal cell types. The ability to faithfully recapitulate the stepwise in vivo development in a three‐dimensional cell culture system allows for the study of mechanisms underlying human retinogenesis. Furthermore, this methodology allows for the study of retinal dysfunction and disease modeling using patient‐derived cells, as well as high‐throughput pharmacological screening and eventually patient‐specific therapies. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.