A novel in vitro retinal differentiation model by co-culturing adult human bone marrow stem cells with retinal pigmented epithelium cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Jan 21;326(3):578-85. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.11.061.

Abstract

Human retinal pigment epithelium (HRPE) cells are important in maintaining the normal physiology within the neurosensory retina and photoreceptors. Recently, transplantation of HRPE has become a possible therapeutic approach for retinal degeneration. By negative immunoselection (CD45 and glycophorin A), in this study, we have isolated and cultivated adult human bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) with multilineage differentiation potential. After a 2- to 4-week culture under chondrogenic, osteogenic, adipogenic, and hepatogenic induction medium, these BMSCs were found to differentiate into cartilage, bone, adipocyte, and hepatocyte-like cells, respectively. We also showed that these BMSCs could differentiate into neural precursor cells (nestin-positive) and mature neurons (MAP-2 and Tuj1-positive) following treatment of neural selection and induction medium for 1 month. Furthermore, the plasticity of BMSCs was confirmed by initiating their differentiation into retinal cells and photoreceptor lineages by co-culturing with HRPE cells. The latter system provides an ex vivo expansion model of culturing photoreceptors for the treatment of retinal degeneration diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / physiology*
  • Calcium Channels / physiology
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Humans
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / physiology
  • Pigment Epithelium of Eye / cytology
  • Pigment Epithelium of Eye / embryology
  • Pigment Epithelium of Eye / physiology*
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retina / embryology*
  • Retina / physiology
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / physiology*

Substances

  • Calcium Channels