Differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into the subretinal space of sodium iodate-injected rats.
OBJECTIVE
The differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was investigated in a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damage model induced by the administration of sodium iodate.


METHODS
Cultured rat MSCs were transfected with enhanced green fluorescent protein and transplanted into the subretinal space of rats injected 4 days earlier with sodium iodate. Immunofluorescence analysis was performed 5 weeks later.


RESULTS
The transduction efficiency was 99.9%. Viable MSCs were detected 5 weeks after transplantation, mainly in the subretinal space. The cells expressed pan-cytokeratin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and rhodopsin.


CONCLUSIONS
Bone marrow MSCs transplanted into the subretinal space of sodium iodate-injected rats have the ability to differentiate into RPE, photoreceptor and glial lineage cells.
Gong
Lihua
L
Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
Wu
Qiang
Q
Song
Beiwen
B
Lu
Bin
B
Zhang
Yi
Y
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007267:Injections; D007452:Iodates / Q000633:toxicity*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection
D007452:Iodates; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C032285:sodium iodate