title: Dental pulp stem cells differentiation into retinal ganglion-like cells in a three dimensional network.
abstract: The loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in majority of retinal degenerative diseases is the first seen pathological event. A lot of studies aim to discover suitable cell sources to replace lost and damaged RGCs. Among them dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have a great potential of differentiating into neuronal lineages as well as RGCs. Moreover, three-dimensional (3D) networks and its distribution for growing and differentiation of stem cells as much as possible mimic to native tissue holds great potential in retinal tissue engineering. In this study, we isolate DPSCs from rat incisors and validate them with flow cytometry. Briefly, we differentiated cells using DMEM/F12 containing FGF2, Shh and 0.5% FBS into retinal ganglion-like cells (RGLCs) in two conditions; 3D state in biocompatible fibrin hydrogel and two-dimensional (2D) or conventional culture in polystyrene plates. Immuncytochemical and gene expression analysis revealed the expression of Pax6, Atoh7 and BRN3B increased in 3D fibrin culture compared to 2D conventional culture. In combination, these data demonstrate that using 3D networks can resemble near natural tissue properties for effective generating RGCs which used to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Stem Cell Preparation Unit, Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roozafzoon
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Preparation Unit, Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lashay
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: mvasei@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasei
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Jafar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Preparation Unit, Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; BioDental Materials Department, Dental Faculty of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khoshzaban
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Preparation Unit, Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed Heidari
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Keshel
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Barabadi
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Preparation Unit, Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bahrami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D005337:Fibrin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005782:Gels / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D012212:Rheology / Q000187:drug effects; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005782:Gels; D005337:Fibrin
keywords: Dental pulp stem cells; Retinal ganglion cells; Three-dimensional networks; Tissue engineering