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Generation of structures formed by lens and retinal cells differentiating from embryonic stem cells
Author(s) -
Hirano Mariko,
Yamamoto Akitsugu,
Yoshimura Naoko,
Tokunaga Tomoyuki,
Motohashi Tsutomu,
Ishizaki Katsuhiko,
Yoshida Hisahiro,
Okazaki Kenji,
Yamazaki Hidetoshi,
Hayashi ShinIchi,
Kunisada Takahiro
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.10425
Subject(s) - biology , retina , embryonic stem cell , eye development , microbiology and biotechnology , pax6 , lens (geology) , stem cell , muller glia , retinal , retinal pigment epithelium , anatomy , neuroscience , transcription factor , genetics , gene , progenitor cell , botany , paleontology
Embryonic stem cells have the potential to give rise to all cell lineages when introduced into the early embryo. They also give rise to a limited number of different cell types in vitro in specialized culture systems. In this study, we established a culture system in which a structure consisting of lens, neural retina, and pigmented retina was efficiently induced from embryonic stem cells. Refractile cell masses containing lens and neural retina were surrounded by retinal pigment epithelium layers and, thus, designated as eye‐like structures. Developmental processes required for eye development appear to proceed in this culture system, because the formation of the eye‐like structures depended on the expression of Pax6, a key transcription factor for eye development. The present culture system opens up the possibility of examining early stages of eye development and also of producing cells for use in cellular therapy for various diseases of the eye. Developmental Dynamics 228:664–671, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.