Cell therapy with hiPSC-derived RPE cells and RPCs prevents visual function loss in a rat model of retinal degeneration
Salas Torras, Anna (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)
Duarri, Anna (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)
Fontrodona Montals, Laura (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)
Ramírez Mora, Diana (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)
Badia Pérez, Anna (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)
Isla-Magrané, Helena (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)
Ferreira-de-Souza, Barbara (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)
Zapata, Miguel Angel (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)
Raya, Ángel (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina)
García Arumí, José (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Institut de Recerca)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2021
Abstract:	Photoreceptor loss is the principal cause of blindness in retinal degenerative diseases (RDDs). Whereas some therapies exist for early stages of RDDs, no effective treatment is currently available for later stages, and once photoreceptors are lost, the only option to rescue vision is cell transplantation. With the use of the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat model of retinal degeneration, we sought to determine whether combined transplantation of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal precursor cells (RPCs) and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells was superior to RPE or RPC transplantation alone in preserving retinal from degeneration. hiPSC-derived RPCs and RPE cells expressing (GFP) were transplanted into the subretinal space of rats. In vivo monitoring showed that grafted cells survived 12 weeks in the subretinal space, and rats treated with RPE + RPC therapy exhibited better conservation of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and visual response than RPE-treated or RPC-treated rats. Transplanted RPE cells integrated in the host RPE layer, whereas RPC mostly remained in the subretinal space, although a limited number of cells integrated in the ONL. In conclusion, the combined transplantation of hiPSC-derived RPE and RPCs is a potentially superior therapeutic approach to protect retina from degeneration in RDDs. In this article, Anna Duarri and colleagues aim to develop a novel cell-based therapeutic approach to preserve retinal structure and function in retinal degenerative diseases caused by dysfunctional retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Giving to the eye support of healthy RPE together with healthy retinal cells protects the retina from degeneration.
Grants:	Instituto de Salud Carlos III PT13-000-0041 Instituto de Salud Carlos III RD16-0008
Note:	Altres ajuts: This research project was funded by grants from La Marató de TV3 Foundation (484/C/2012).
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Cell therapy ; Human-induced pluripotent stem cell ; Retinal pigment epithelium ; Photoreceptors ; Retina degeneration ; RCS rat ; Regenerative medicine ; RPE ; IPSC ; Subretinal injection
Published in:	Molecular Therapy. Methods & Clinical Development, Vol. 20 (february 2021) , p. 688-702, ISSN 2329-0501

DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.02.006
PMID: 33738324

15 p, 5.7 MB

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