title: Generation of Retinal Ganglion Cells With Functional Axons From Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously generated self-induced retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) with functional axons from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). We investigated whether self-induced RGCs from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs) are realized by the similar induction protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retinal ganglion cells were induced using a protocol in which floating embryoid bodies (EBs) were differentiated into a retinal cell lineage in three-dimensional culture and subsequently attached to two-dimensional culture dishes with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Retinal ganglion cells developed in an attached clump of cells originating from the optic vesicle, and most axons grew from RGC cell bodies at the margins of the clump. The differentiation of RGCs was confirmed by the expression of specific markers, including Brn3a and Math5. The axons contained neurofilament subtypes and tau, and manifested axonal transport and sodium-dependent action potentials. The RGCs derived from mESCs and miPSCs generally showed similar profiles, including RNA and protein expression levels and function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retinal ganglion cells generated from mESCs and miPSCs, especially the latter, may contribute to research associated with RGCs and to in vitro analyses of genetically modified mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Laboratory for Visual Science National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Laboratory for Visual Science National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokoi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Fuminobu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tamalu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Shu-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Laboratory for Visual Science National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishina
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Laboratory for Visual Science National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azuma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport / Q000502:physiology; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D000066450:Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014157:Transcription Factors