Optic neuropathy such as glaucoma, stemming from retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration, is a leading cause of visual impairment. Given the substantial loss of RGCs preceding clinical detection of visual impairment, cell replacement therapy emerges as a compelling treatment strategy. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) serve as invaluable tools for exploring the developmental processes and pathological mechanisms associated with human RGCs. Utilizing a 3D stepwise differentiation protocol for retinal organoids, we successfully differentiated RGC precursors from hiPSCs harboring a BRN3B-GFP RGC reporter, verified by GFP expression. Intravitreal transplantation of enriched RGC precursors into healthy or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-injured mice demonstrated their survival, migration, and integration into the proper retinal layer, the ganglion cell layer, after 3 weeks. Notably, these transplanted cells differentiated into marker-positive RGCs and extended neurites. Moreover, enhanced cell survival was observed with immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory treatments of the host prior to transplantation. These data underscore the potential of transplanted RGC precursors as a promising therapeutic avenue for treating degenerative retinal diseases resulting from RGC dysfunction.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312947 | DOI Listing |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11641514 | PMC |
Exp Eye Res
December 2024
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration (Fudan University), Shanghai 200031. Electronic address:
We aimed to explore the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of taurine on retinal cells during acute ocular hypertension (AOH)-induced damage. Retinal morphology, apoptosis, mitochondrial structure, electroretinography, expression of GTP binding protein 3 (GTPBP3), and molecules in the unfolded protein response (UPR) were examined in an AOH mouse model and wild-type (WT) mice with or without intravitreal injection of taurine. For in vitro experiments, the GTPBP3 expression and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were examined in R28 cell line under hydrogen peroxide (HO)-induced damage or hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced damage, with or without taurine pretreatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Signal
December 2024
Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, China; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China. Electronic address:
Nerves are often overlooked as key components of the tumor microenvironment. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the reciprocal interactions between tumors and nerves remain largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and identified a significant association between DKK1 expression and poor prognosis, as well as a correlation between DKK1 expression and myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) infiltration in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), two cancer types characterized by pronounced tumor-nerve interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExp Eye Res
December 2024
Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, 53226, USA; Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, 53226, USA. Electronic address:
Genome or prime editing has become a promising tool for the treatment of hereditary disorders affecting the inner retina, such as dominant optic neuropathies. In vivo delivery of gene editors, such as Cas9, is typically achieved using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors, which have a broad range of cellular tropisms and are well tolerated following intravitreal administration. Owing to the large size of gene editing constructs and the limited carrying capacity of rAAV (<5.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Rep
December 2024
Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Brain-inspired Intelligence Technology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China. Electronic address:
In the dorsal striatum (DS), the direct- and indirect-pathway striatal projection neurons (dSPNs and iSPNs) play crucial opposing roles in controlling actions. However, it remains unclear whether and how dSPNs and iSPNs provide distinct and specific contributions to decision-making, a process transforming sensory inputs to actions. Here, we perform causal interrogations on the roles of dSPNs and iSPNs in the posterior DS (pDS) in auditory-guided decision-making.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand)
November 2024
Department of Zoology, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda 24420, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
The present study aimed to examine the impact of Ricinus communis and valacyclovir (VACV) on the progression of skin lesions and pain responses in mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Mice were infected with HSV-1 and treated with R. communis (8, 16, or 48 mg/kg) or VACV (8, 25, or 90 mg/kg) twice daily on days 2-8 post-infection.
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