scholarly journals Inducible Pluripotent Stem Cells to Model and Treat Inherited Degenerative Diseases of the Outer Retina: 3D-Organoids Limitations and Bioengineering Solutions

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 2489
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Andreazzoli ◽  
Ivana Barravecchia ◽  
Chiara De Cesari ◽  
Debora Angeloni ◽  
Gian Carlo Demontis

Inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) affecting either photoreceptors or pigment epithelial cells cause progressive visual loss and severe disability, up to complete blindness. Retinal organoids (ROs) technologies opened up the development of human inducible pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) for disease modeling and replacement therapies. However, hiPSC-derived ROs applications to IRD presently display limited maturation and functionality, with most photoreceptors lacking well-developed outer segments (OS) and light responsiveness comparable to their adult retinal counterparts. In this review, we address for the first time the microenvironment where OS mature, i.e., the subretinal space (SRS), and discusses SRS role in photoreceptors metabolic reprogramming required for OS generation. We also address bioengineering issues to improve culture systems proficiency to promote OS maturation in hiPSC-derived ROs. This issue is crucial, as satisfying the demanding metabolic needs of photoreceptors may unleash hiPSC-derived ROs full potential for disease modeling, drug development, and replacement therapies.

Author(s):  
Deepthi Rajendran Nair ◽  
Biju Thomas

Background: The main cause of progressive vision impairment in retinal degenerative diseases is the dysfunction of photoreceptors and the underlying retinal pigment epithelial cells. The inadequate regenerative capacity of the neural retina and lack of established therapeutic options demand the development of clinical grade protocols to halt degenerative process in the eye or to replace the damaged cells by using stem cell derived products. Recently, stem cell-based regenerative therapies are at the forefront of clinical investigations for retinal dystrophies. Objective: This article will review different stem cell-based therapies currently employed for retinal degenerative diseases, recent clinical trials, and major challenges in the translation of these therapies from bench to bedside. Methodology: A systematic literature review was carried out to identify potentially relevant articles published in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, Drugs@FDA, European Medicines Agency, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and CENTRAL Result: Transplantation of healthy cells to replace the damaged cells in the outer retina is a clinically relevant concept because the inner retina that communicates with the visual areas of the brain remains functional even after the photoreceptors are completely lost. Different methods have been established for the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into different retinal cell types that can be used for therapies. Factors released from transplanted somatic stem cells showed trophic support and photoreceptor rescue during early stages of the disease. Several preclinical and phase I/II clinical studies using terminally differentiated photoreceptor/ retinal pigment epithelial cells derived from pluripotent stem cells have shown proof of concept for visual restoration in Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Stargardt disease and Retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Conclusion: Cell replacement therapy has great potential for vision restoration. The results obtained from the initial clinical trials are encouraging and indicates its therapeutic benefits. The current status of the therapies suggests that there is a long way to go before these results can be applied to routine clinical practice. Input from the ongoing multicentre clinical trials will give a more refined idea for the future design of clinical- grade protocols to transplant GMP level HLA matched cells.


2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Kawser Hossain ◽  
Ahmed Abdal Dayem ◽  
Jihae Han ◽  
Subbroto Kumar Saha ◽  
Gwang-Mo Yang ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bei Liu ◽  
Shi Chen ◽  
Yaxing Xu ◽  
Yulin Lyu ◽  
Jinlin Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractExtended pluripotent stem (EPS) cells have shown great applicative potentials in generating synthetic embryos, directed differentiation and disease modeling. However, the lack of a xeno-free culture condition has significantly limited their applications. Here, we report a chemically defined and xeno-free culture system for culturing and deriving human EPS cells in vitro. Xeno-free human EPS cells can be long-term and genetically stably maintained in vitro, as well as preserve their embryonic and extraembryonic developmental potentials. Furthermore, the xeno-free culturing system also permits efficient derivation of human EPS cells from human fibroblast through reprogramming. Our study could have broad utility in future applications of human EPS cells in biomedicine.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thekkeparambil Chandrabose Srijaya ◽  
Padmaja Jayaprasad Pradeep ◽  
Rosnah Binti Zain ◽  
Sabri Musa ◽  
Noor Hayaty Abu Kasim ◽  
...  

Induced pluripotent stem cell-based therapy for treating genetic disorders has become an interesting field of research in recent years. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the applicability of induced pluripotent stem cells in dental research. Recent advances in the use of induced pluripotent stem cells have the potential for developing disease-specific iPSC linesin vitrofrom patients. Indeed, this has provided a perfect cell source for disease modeling and a better understanding of genetic aberrations, pathogenicity, and drug screening. In this paper, we will summarize the recent progress of the disease-specific iPSC development for various human diseases and try to evaluate the possibility of application of iPS technology in dentistry, including its capacity for reprogramming some genetic orodental diseases. In addition to the easy availability and suitability of dental stem cells, the approach of generating patient-specific pluripotent stem cells will undoubtedly benefit patients suffering from orodental disorders.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (22) ◽  
pp. 5752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heng Liang Tan ◽  
Andre Choo

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) comprise both embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The application of pluripotent stem cells is divided into four main areas, namely: (i) regenerative therapy, (ii) the study and understanding of developmental biology, (iii) drug screening and toxicology and (iv) disease modeling. In this review, we describe a new opportunity for PSCs, the discovery of new biomarkers and generating antibodies against these biomarkers. PSCs are good sources of immunogen for raising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) because of the conservation of oncofetal antigens between PSCs and cancer cells. Hence mAbs generated using PSCs can potentially be applied in two different fields. First, these mAbs can be used in regenerative cell therapy to characterize the PSCs. In addition, the mAbs can be used to separate or eliminate contaminating or residual undifferentiated PSCs from the differentiated cell product. This step is critical as undifferentiated PSCs can form teratomas in vivo. The mAbs generated against PSCs can also be used in the field of oncology. Here, novel targets can be identified and the mAbs developed as targeted therapy to kill the cancer cells. Conversely, as new and novel oncofetal biomarkers are discovered on PSCs, cancer mAbs that are already approved by the FDA can be repurposed for regenerative medicine, thus expediting the route to the clinics.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 3112
Author(s):  
Michael Simeon ◽  
Seema Dangwal ◽  
Agapios Sachinidis ◽  
Michael Xavier Doss

Personalized regenerative medicine and biomedical research have been galvanized and revolutionized by human pluripotent stem cells in combination with recent advances in genomics, artificial intelligence, and genome engineering. More recently, we have witnessed the unprecedented breakthrough life-saving translation of mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 to contain the global pandemic and the investment in billions of US dollars in space exploration projects and the blooming space-tourism industry fueled by the latest reusable space vessels. Now, it is time to examine where the translation of pluripotent stem cell research stands currently, which has been touted for more than the last two decades to cure and treat millions of patients with severe debilitating degenerative diseases and tissue injuries. This review attempts to highlight the accomplishments of pluripotent stem cell research together with cutting-edge genomics and genome editing tools and, also, the promises that have still not been transformed into clinical applications, with cardiovascular research as a case example. This review also brings to our attention the scientific and socioeconomic challenges that need to be effectively addressed to see the full potential of pluripotent stem cells at the clinical bedside.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Voulgaris ◽  
Polyxeni Nikolakopoulou ◽  
Anna Herland

Generating astrocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells has been hampered by either prolonged differentiation -spanning over two months -or by shorter protocols that generate immature astrocytes, devoid of salient inflammation-associated astrocytic traits pivotal for CNS neuropathological modeling. We directed human neural stem cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells to astrocytic commitment and maturity by orchestrating an astrocytic-tuned culturing environment. In under 28 days, the generated cells express canonical and mature astrocytic markers, denoted by the expression of AQP4 and, remarkably, the expression and functionality of glutamate transporter EAAT2. We also show that this protocol generates astrocytes that encompass traits critical in CNS disease modeling, such as glutathione synthesis and secretion, upregulation of ICAM-1 and a cytokine secretion profile which is on par with primary astrocytes. This protocol generates a multifaceted astrocytic model suitable for CNS in vitro disease modeling and personalized medicine through brain-on-chip technologies.


F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alysson R. Muotri

Human brain organoids, generated from pluripotent stem cells, have emerged as a promising technique for modeling early stages of human neurodevelopment in controlled laboratory conditions. Although the applications for disease modeling in a dish have become routine, the use of these brain organoids as evolutionary tools is only now getting momentum. Here, we will review the current state of the art on the use of brain organoids from different species and the molecular and cellular insights generated from these studies. Besides, we will discuss how this model might be beneficial for human health and the limitations and future perspectives of this technology.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document