Dual SMAD inhibition and Wnt inhibition enable efficient and reproducible differentiations of induced pluripotent stem cells into retinal ganglion cells.

Glaucoma is a group of progressive optic neuropathies that share common biological and clinical characteristics including irreversible changes to the optic nerve and visual field loss caused by the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The loss of RGCs manifests as characteristic cupping or optic nerve degeneration, resulting in visual field loss in patients with Glaucoma. Published studies on in vitro RGC differentiation from stem cells utilized classical RGC signaling pathways mimicking retinal development in vivo.

SNP located in an repeat downstream of rs4657473, is protective for POAG in African Americans.

Aims: To determine the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) downstream from the gene with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in African Americans (AA).

Methods: AA subjects were recruited for the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study from the Scheie Eye Institute and its satellite sites in Philadelphia. A region containing an repeat and seven SNPs, including rs4656461 near the gene, were PCR-Sanger sequenced from POAAGG cases (n=1537) and controls (n=1570).

Directional ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux and apoB-lipoprotein secretion in the retinal pigment epithelium.

Cholesterol-containing soft drusen and subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs) occur at the basolateral and apical side of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), respectively, in the chorioretina and are independent risk factors for late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Cholesterol in these deposits could originate from the RPE as nascent HDL or apoB-lipoprotein. We characterized cholesterol efflux and apoB-lipoprotein secretion in RPE cells.

Complete Transcriptome Profiling of Normal and Age-Related Macular Degeneration Eye Tissues Reveals Dysregulation of Anti-Sense Transcription.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) predominantly affects the retina and retinal pigment epithelium in the posterior eye. While there are numerous studies investigating the non-coding transcriptome of retina and RPE, few significant differences between AMD and normal tissues have been reported. Strand specific RNA sequencing of both peripheral retina (PR) and RPE-Choroid-Sclera (PRCS), in both AMD and matched normal controls were generated.