Premium
Hepatocyte growth factor promotes the proliferation of human embryonic stem cell derived retinal pigment epithelial cells
Author(s) -
Karamali Fereshteh,
Esfahani MohammadHossein Nasr,
Hajian Mehdi,
Ejeian Fatemeh,
Satarian Leila,
Baharvand Hossein
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.27194
Subject(s) - embryonic stem cell , hepatocyte growth factor , microbiology and biotechnology , pigment , hepatocyte , stem cell , retinal , cell growth , retinal pigment epithelium , growth factor , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , gene , in vitro , receptor , organic chemistry
Research that pertains to the molecular mechanisms involved in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) development can significantly contribute to cell therapy studies. The effects of periocular mesenchymal cells on the expansion of RPE cells remain elusive. We have examined the possible proliferative role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) as a mesenchymal cell secretory factor against human embryonic stem cell derived RPE (hESC‐RPE). We found that the conditioned medium of human mesenchymal stem cells from apical papilla and/or exogenous HGF promoted proliferation of the hESC‐RPE cells as single cells and cell sheets, in addition to rabbit RPE sheets in vitro. Blockage of HGF signaling by HGF receptor inhibitor, PHA‐665752, inhibited proliferation of hESC‐RPE cells. However, differentiation of hESCs and human‐induced pluripotent stem cells to a rostral fate and eye‐field specification was unaffected by HGF. Our in vivo analysis showed HGF expression in periocular mesenchymal cells after optic cup formation in chicken embryos. Administration of HGF receptor inhibitor at this developmental stage in chicken embryos led to reduced eye size and disorganization of the RPE sheet. These findings suggested that HGF administration could be beneficial for obtaining higher numbers of hESC‐RPE cells in human preclinical and clinical trials.