title: Muller glia induce retinal progenitor cells to differentiate into retinal ganglion cells.
abstract: Retinal progenitor cells could differentiate into various retinal cells that made cell-replacement therapy possible. Here, we investigated the role of cellular microenvironment on their regulation and differentiation and found that the percentage of proliferating cells and the percentage of retinal ganglion cells produced from them increased, when retinal progenitor cells were cocultured with Muller glia. Muller glia conditioned medium had the similar results. It is speculated that rather than traditional supportive roles, Muller glia may have an active regulatory role inducing retinal progenitor cells to proliferate and differentiate into ganglion cells by secreting some diffusible and membrane-associated factors. Identification of Muller glia-derived factors will be made to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis.
authors.affiliation: China-Australia Link Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Embryo, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Xinghuai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005865:Gestational Age; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064231:Nestin; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine