title: Generating iPSC-Derived Choroidal Endothelial Cells to Study Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of incurable blindness in the western world, is characterized by the dysfunction and eventual death of choroidal endothelial (CECs), RPE, and photoreceptor cells. Stem cell-based treatment strategies designed to replace photoreceptor and RPE cells currently are a major scientific focus. However, the success of these approaches likely also will require replacement of the underlying, supportive choroidal vasculature. The purpose of this study was to generate stem cell-derived CECs to develop efficient differentiation and transplantation protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dermal fibroblasts from the Tie2-GFP mouse were isolated and reprogrammed into two independent induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines via viral transduction of the transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. Tie2-GFP iPSCs were differentiated into CECs using a coculture method with either the RF6A CEC line or primary mouse CECs. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CECs were characterized via RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry for EC- and CEC-specific markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Induced pluripotent stem cells generated from mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of the endothelial Tie2 promoter display classic pluripotency markers and stem cell morphology. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CECs express carbonic anhydrase IV, eNOS, FOXA2, PLVAP, CD31, CD34, ICAM-1, Tie2, TTR, VE-cadherin, and vWF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CECs will be a valuable tool for modeling of choriocapillaris-specific insults in AMD and for use in future choroidal endothelial cell replacement approaches.
authors.affiliation: Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.
authors.forename: Allison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Songstad
authors.affiliation: Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.
authors.forename: Luke A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.
authors.forename: Khahn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duong
authors.affiliation: Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaalberg
authors.affiliation: Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.
authors.forename: Miles J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Flamme-Wiese
authors.affiliation: Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.
authors.forename: Cathryn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cranston
authors.affiliation: Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.
authors.forename: Megan J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Riker
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levasseur
authors.affiliation: Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States 3Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.
authors.forename: Edwin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Mullins
authors.affiliation: Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States.
authors.forename: Budd A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Tucker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic