Deciphering Retinal Diseases through the Generation of Three Dimensional Stem Cell ‐derived Organoids

Schematic overview of current hiPSCs disease 3D retinal modeling. Somatic cells from patients are reprogrammed toward human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Derived 3D retinal organoids from hiPSCs serve as a model for further investigation of disease mechanisms, drug, and toxicological screening as well as for future developments of new therapies in patients. The application of gene ‐editing technology in patient's hiPSCs could create the gene‐corrected 3D organoids as a cell source for transplantation therapy of hereditary retinal dystrophies. Abbreviations: PRs, photoreceptors; GCs, ganglion cells; HCs, horizontal cells; ACs, amacrine cells; BCs, bipolar cells; IS, inner segment; OS, outer segment; ONL, outer nuclear layer; OPL, outer plexiform layer; INL, inner nuclear layer; IPL, inner plexiform layer; NFL, nerve fiber layer; GCL, ganglion cell layer. AbstractThree ‐dimensional (3D) retinal organoids;in vitro tissue structures derived from self ‐organizing cultures of differentiating human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), could recapitulate some aspects of the cytoarchitectural structure and function of the retinain vivo. 3D retinal organoids display huge potential for the investigation of the pathogenesis of monogenic hereditary eye diseases that are related to the malfunction or degeneration of photoreceptors or retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by providing an effectivein vitro tool with multiple applications. In com...
Source: Stem Cells - Category: Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Embryonic Stem Cells/Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Source Type: research