In the retina, as elsewhere in the central nervous system, neurogenesis precedes gliogenesis; that is, the only glia in the retina, Müller cells, are born when the majority of neurons have already been generated. However, our understanding of how the multipotent retinal stem cells/progenitors choose to differentiate along neuronal and glial lineages is unclear. This information is important in promoting directed differentiation of retinal stem cells/progenitors in an ex vivo or in vivo stem cell approach to treating degenerative retinal diseases. Here, using the neurosphere assay, we demonstrate that ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), acting in a concentration-dependent manner, influences the simultaneous differentiation of retinal stem cells/progenitors into neurons or glia. At low CNTF concentrations differentiation of bipolar cells is promoted, whereas high CNTF concentrations facilitate Müller cell differentiation. The two concentrations of CNTF lead to differential activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (Jak-STAT) pathways, with recruitment of the former and the latter for the differentiation of bipolar and Müller cells, respectively. The concentration-dependent recruitment of two disparate pathways toward neurogenesis and gliogenesis occurs in concert with Notch signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the attenuation of Jak-STAT signaling along with Notch signaling facilitates the differentiation of retinal stem cells/progenitors along the rod photoreceptor lineage in vivo. Our observations posit CNTF-mediated signaling as a molecular switch for neuronal versus glial differentiation of retinal stem cells/progenitors and a molecular target for directed neuronal differentiation of retinal stem cells/progenitors as an approach to addressing degenerative changes in the retina. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1634/stemcells.2008-0222 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Exosome's Implications in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
Curr Eye Res
January 2025
Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Purpose: This study aims to conduct a mini review of published literature concerning the role of exosomes in the field of ophthalmology, with a specific focus on Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
Methods: In this study, a comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify relevant publications. Additionally, trials submitted to clinicaltrials.
Derivation and Characterization of Isogenic Mutant and Control Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines.
Cells
January 2025
Jules Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Dominant optic atrophy (DOA) is the most commonly inherited optic neuropathy. The majority of DOA is caused by mutations in the gene, which encodes a dynamin-related GTPase located to the mitochondrion. OPA1 has been shown to regulate mitochondrial dynamics and promote fusion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlocking the potential for optic nerve regeneration over long distances: a multi-therapeutic intervention.
Front Neurol
January 2025
Department of Orthopaedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) generally fail to regenerate axons, resulting in irreversible vision loss after optic nerve injury. While many studies have shown that modulating specific genes can enhance RGCs survival and promote optic nerve regeneration, inducing long-distance axon regeneration through single-gene manipulation remains challenging. Nevertheless, combined multi-gene therapies have proven effective in significantly enhancing axonal regeneration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScreening of Retinal-targeting Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) via DNA shuffling.
Exp Eye Res
January 2025
Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China; Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Ministry of Education, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China. Electronic address:
Due to its unique physiological structure and functions, the eye has received considerable attention in the field of Adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy. Inherited retinal degenerative diseases, which arise from pathogenic mutations in mRNA transcripts expressed in the eye's photoreceptor cells or retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), are the most common cause of vision loss. However, current retinal gene therapy mostly involves subretinal injection of therapeutic genes, which treats a limited area, entails retinal detachment, and requires sophisticated techniques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAmyloid β (Aβ) has emerged as a pathophysiological driver in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), emphasizing its significance in the aetiology of this prevalent sight-threatening condition. The multifaceted nature of AMD pathophysiology, presumably involving diverse retinal cascades, corresponds with the complexity of Aβ-induced retinopathy. Therefore, targeting a broad array of pathogenic processes holds promise for therapeutic intervention in AMD-associated retinal pathology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!