title: Features specific to retinal pigment epithelium cells derived from three-dimensional human embryonic stem cell cultures - a new donor for cell therapy.
abstract: Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) transplantation is a particularly promising treatment of retinal degenerative diseases affecting RPE-photoreceptor complex. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) provide an abundant donor source for RPE transplantation. Herein, we studied the time-course characteristics of RPE cells derived from three-dimensional human ESCs cultures (3D-RPE). We showed that 3D-RPE cells possessed morphology, ultrastructure, gene expression profile, and functions of authentic RPE. As differentiation proceeded, 3D-RPE cells could mature gradually with decreasing proliferation but increasing functions. Besides, 3D-RPE cells could form polarized monolayer with functional tight junction and gap junction. When grafted into the subretinal space of Royal College of Surgeons rats, 3D-RPE cells were safe and efficient to rescue retinal degeneration. This study showed that 3D-RPE cells were a new donor for cell therapy of retinal degenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.|Key Laboratory of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.|Key Laboratory of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Yuxiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.|Key Laboratory of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Zhengya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.|Key Laboratory of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Qiyou
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.|Key Laboratory of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Haiwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.|Key Laboratory of Visual Damage and Regeneration and Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Zheng Qin
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D064593:Heterografts; D000066449:Human Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D051381:Rats; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: cell therapy; human embryonic stem cells; retinal degenerative diseases; retinal pigment epithelium cells; three-dimensional cultures