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Subretinal implantation of human stem cell‐derived RPE on ultrathin carriers in rabbits
Author(s) -
Stanzel B.V.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2015.0223
Subject(s) - retina , transplantation , retinal pigment epithelium , implant , monolayer , embryonic stem cell , stem cell , retinal , anatomy , ophthalmology , medicine , biomedical engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , materials science , surgery , nanotechnology , neuroscience , biochemistry , gene
Summary Transplantation of retinal pigment epithelium ( RPE ) is being developed as a cell replacement therapy for age‐related macular degeneration ( AMD ). Human embryonic and adult human RPE stem cells ( hESC and hRPESC , resp.) are known potential sources that are currently being pursued towards the clinic. Polarized monolayers of SC ‐derived RPE were shown to grow on biostable polyester ( PET ) membranes. They were found to be similar to fetal hRPE monolayers and to have near‐native characteristics. Stamped pieces of RPE monolayers on the carrier were loaded into a custom‐designed surgical instrument and transplanted subretinally in the rabbit, a large‐eyed animal model. Compared to fetal and hRPESC derived RPE , hESC ‐ RPE xenografts showed better preservation of the neural retina overlying the implant. Histology obtained 4 weeks after implantation confirmed a continuous polarized human RPE monolayer on PET . We demonstrate that the xeno‐ RPE monolayer implant survived well and retained its polarization. Moreover, our initial data suggest a distinctly advantageous tolerance of hESC derived RPE xenografts in rabbit subretinal space.