Müller cells express the neuronal progenitor cell marker nestin in both differentiated and undifferentiated human foetal retina.
Tritiated thymidine studies suggest that Müller cells are the last cells born in the retina, although several authors describe Müller cells throughout the retina from very early ages. In this study immunohistochemistry was used to identify progenitor and Müller cells in human foetal retina. Antibodies to nestin (an intermediate filament protein expressed by neural progenitor cells), vimentin, cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP) and glutamate and aspartate transporter (GLAST), which are each expressed by Müller cells, were used in combination with anti-Ki67 to identify proliferating cells. By definition, Ki67-positive proliferating cells were present in undifferentiated retina, but not in differentiated retina. Nestin-immunoreactive (IR) cells colocalized with vimentin throughout the retina. CRALBP-IR was detected in differentiated retina and in some proliferating cells. GLAST-IR cells were present only within the differentiated region. Nestin, vimentin and CRALBP each colocalized with mitotic Ki67-IR cells, suggesting that in foetal retina Müller cells and retinal progenitor cells are overlapping populations and that Müller cells are end-stage progenitor cells.
Walcott
James C
JC
Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Provis
Jan M
JM
D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
C020932:11-cis-retinal-binding protein; D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D014746:Vimentin