title: High yield of cells committed to the photoreceptor-like cells from conjunctiva mesenchymal stem cells on nanofibrous scaffolds.
abstract: Transplantation of stem cells using biodegradable and biocompatible nanofibrous scaffolds is a promising therapeutic approach for treating inherited retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. In this study, conjunctiva mesenchymal stem cells (CJMSCs) were seeded onto poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) nanofibrous scaffolds and were induced to differentiate toward photoreceptor cell lineages. Furthermore, the effects of orientation of scaffold on photoreceptor differentiation were examined. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging, quantitative real time RT-PCR (qPCR) and immunocytochemistry were used to analyze differentiated cells and their expression of photoreceptor-specific genes. Our observations demonstrated the differentiation of CJMSCs to photoreceptor cells on nanofibrous scaffolds and suggested their potential application in retinal regeneration. SEM imaging showed that CJMSCs were spindle shaped and well oriented on the aligned nanofiber scaffolds. The expression of rod photoreceptor-specific genes was significantly higher in CJMSCs differentiated on randomly-oriented nanofibers compared to those on aligned nanofibers. According to our results we may conclude that the nanofibrous PLLA scaffold reported herein could be used as a potential cell carrier for retinal tissue engineering and a combination of electrospun nanofiber scaffolds and MSC-derived conjunctiva stromal cells may have potential application in retinal regenerative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Department, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Samad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nadri
authors.forename: Bahram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kazemi
authors.forename: Mohamadreza Baghaban
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Eslaminejad
authors.forename: Mohamadreza Baghaban
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Eeslaminejad
authors.forename: Shahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yazdani
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soleimani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)