Derivation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Lines from Patient-Specific Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) Using Episomal Vectors.

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a diverse group of rare eye disorders, resulting in vision loss or blindness. The underlying reason is mutation in one or more than 250 different genes associated with the development and normal physiology of retina largely comprising of rod/cone photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium. Interestingly, the sub retinal region of an eye has been shown to be immune privileged, broadening the scope of cell-replacement therapies for patients suffering from retinal degeneration.

Differentiating Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) Into Lung Epithelial Cells.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) not only offer great opportunities for the study of human development but also have tremendous potential for future clinical cell-based therapies. The protocol outlined here is used to differentiate hiPSCs into lung epithelial cell types through a process that faithfully recapitulates the stepwise events observed in vivo. From pluripotency, cells are differentiated to a definitive endoderm fate, followed by progression into anteriorized foregut endoderm that has the ability to give rise to both proximal and distal epithelial cells.

Generation of Transplantable Retinal Pigmented Epithelial (RPE) Cells for Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the foremost cause of blindness in people over the age of 60 worldwide. Clinically, this disease starts with distortion in central vision eventually leading to legal blindness. Vision loss has a significant impact on quality of life and incurs a substantial cost to the economy.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived retinal cells in disease modeling and regenerative medicine.

Retinal degenerative disorders are a leading cause of the inherited, irreversible and incurable vision loss. While various rodent model systems have provided crucial information in this direction, lack of disease-relevant tissue availability and species-specific differences have proven to be a major roadblock. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) have opened up a whole new avenue of possibilities not just in understanding the disease mechanism but also potential therapeutic approaches towards a cure.