Open AccessThe Simultaneous Treatment of MMP‐2 Stimulants in Retinal Transplantation Enhances Grafted Cell Migration into the Host Retina
Author(s) -
Suzuki Takuya,
Mandai Michiko,
Akimoto Masayuki,
Yoshimura Nagahisa,
Takahashi Masayo
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1634/stemcells.2005-0587
Subject(s) - transplantation , biology , retina , retinal , microbiology and biotechnology , progenitor cell , neural stem cell , matrix metalloproteinase , extracellular matrix , cell migration , neuroscience , stem cell , retinal regeneration , cell , immunology , medicine , biochemistry
The success of functional retinal cell transplantation has been limited by the low efficiency of the transplanted cell integration into the host retina. Given that the extracellular matrix (ECM) is thought to inhibit entry and axonal outgrowth of grafted neural cells into the host retina, modulation of the ECMs in the host environment may overcome this limitation. Here, we demonstrate that matrix metalloprotease‐2 (MMP‐2) expression is associated with the high migratory potential of adult rat hippocampus‐derived neural stem cells compared with retinal progenitor cells. In addition, MMP‐2, as well as its reported inducers concanavalin A and 17β‐estradiol, can trigger the migration of retinal progenitor cells into explanted retinas. Inhibitors of MMP‐2 suppressed these effects. Intense cell migration is not required for photoreceptor transplantation; however, the environment that allows the transplanted cells to integrate is most important. Migration of the transplanted cells is a good index of the acceptance of grafted cell of the host tissue. Strategies modulating the environment by MMP‐2 stimulation may provide an advance in the development of retinal transplantation.