title: In vivo detection of hESC-RPE cells via confocal near-infrared fundus reflectance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether the confocal near-infrared reflectance (NIR) imaging modality could detect the in vivo presence of retinal pigment epithelium cells derived from embryonic human stem cells (hESC-RPE) implanted into the subretinal space of the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Monthly NIR images were obtained from RCS rats implanted with either hESC-RPE seeded on a parylene membrane (n = 14) or parylene membrane without cells (n = 14). Two independent, masked investigators graded the images. Histology and immunohistochemistry were performed at different time points (150, 210, and 270 postnatal days of age).
  
  
  RESULTS
  NIR images revealed that an average of 20.53% of the parylene membrane area was covered by hESC-RPE. RPE-65 and TRA-1-85 confirmed the presence of human-specific RPE cells in those animals. No areas corresponding to cells were found in the group implanted with membrane only. Intergrader agreement was high (r = 0.89-0.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NIR mode was suitable to detect the presence of hESC-RPE seeded on a membrane and implanted into the subretinal space of the RCS rat.
authors.affiliation: Doheny Eye Institute, 1355 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. rribeiro@doheny.org
authors.forename: Ramiro M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oregon
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Rodrigo B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Koss
authors.forename: Wissam
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Charafeddin
authors.forename: Yuntao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Padmaja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Biju B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Gerald J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Chader
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hinton
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Humayun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000166:cytology*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*