Glaucoma is the most prevalent optic neuropathy where a progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) leads to vision loss. Our long-term goal is to help prevent the degeneration of glaucomatous RGCs by characterizing induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a renewable source of retinal progenitors for autologous ex vivo cell therapy. The objective of this application is to optimize the use of limbal iPSCs to generate RGCs that are functional, safe, and practical for clinical use. The central hypothesis of the proposed study is that the molecular mechanism underlying RGC differentiation is active in iPSC-derived retinal progenitors and recruited in response to specific extrinsic cues to generate RGCs with target specificity. Our reasoning is based on the following observations:(1) retinal progenitors can be derived from limbal iPSCs, generated through safe non-nucleic acid method (2) iPSC-derived retinal progenitors respond to cues conducive for RGC differentiation, and (3) iPSC-derived RGCs demonstrate target specificity. The rationale for the proposed research is that once conditions are identified, we can efficiently generate RGC precursors to treat RGC degeneration through transplantation, and develop a robust model system for testing drugs and genetic approaches for optic neuropathy. Based on our preliminary data the following specific aims are proposed to test the hypothesis:
Specific Aim 1 : To determine the conditions for generating retinal progenitors from iPSCs, Specific Aim 2: To determine conditions for the generation of RGCs from iPSC-derived retinal progenitors, and Specific Aim 3: To determine the target specificity and in vivo differentiation of iPSC-derived RGCs. The retinal potential will be examined in limbal iPSCs generated by non-nucleic acid means, pioneered in our lab. This approach of reprogramming by recruiting endogenous pluripotency genes instead of introducing exogenous genes, which can lead to insertional mutagenesis, addresses a significant barrier to iPSC-based therapy. Controls will include limbal iPSC derived by a conventional nucleic acid method to compare the effects of two different approaches of reprogramming on the acquisition of retinal and RGC potential. The induction of iPSCs along a neural lineage, their subsequent specification into retinal progenitors, and their final differentiation into RGCs will be accomplished non-cell autonomously by perturbing specific signaling pathways to recapitulate developmental mechanism. Therefore, our research proposed is innovative because it presents an entirely different and a safe approach for reprogramming somatic cells to a pluripotent state and generating RGCs without using nucleic acids or forced expression of exogenous factors. The emerging information will be significant because it will not only address each of the barriers that currently make the ex-vivo stem cell therapy approach impractical but also lead to the development of a robust model system for testing normal mechanisms of RGC development and for screening drugs and genes for additional new approaches for addressing glaucomatous retinal degeneration.

Public Health Relevance

Glaucoma is the most common optic neuropathy where a progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) leads to vision loss. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for glaucomatous RGC degeneration. Replacement or rescue of degenerating RGCs by stem cell approach is a potentially viable option but suffers from the lack of a renewable, non-immunogenic, and safe source of retinal progenitors. Here, we propose to characterize induced pluripotent stem cells, reprogrammed from progenitors that regenerate our cornea, as RGC precursors for a safe and practical autologous ex-vivo stem cell therapy to treat glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY022051-03
Application #
8774603
Study Section
Diseases and Pathophysiology of the Visual System Study Section (DPVS)
Program Officer
Chin, Hemin R
Project Start
2012-12-01
Project End
2015-11-30
Budget Start
2014-12-01
Budget End
2015-11-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
168559177
City
Omaha
State
NE
Country
United States
Zip Code
68198
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Teotia, Pooja; Chopra, Divyan A; Dravid, Shashank Manohar et al. (2017) Generation of Functional Human Retinal Ganglion Cells with Target Specificity from Pluripotent Stem Cells by Chemically Defined Recapitulation of Developmental Mechanism. Stem Cells 35:572-585
Teotia, Pooja; Van Hook, Matthew J; Ahmad, Iqbal (2017) A Co-culture Model for Determining the Target Specificity of the de novo Generated Retinal Ganglion Cells. Bio Protoc 7:
Parameswaran, Sowmya; Dravid, Shashank Manohar; Teotia, Pooja et al. (2015) Continuous non-cell autonomous reprogramming to generate retinal ganglion cells for glaucomatous neuropathy. Stem Cells 33:1743-58
Parameswaran, Sowmya; Xia, Xiaohuan; Hegde, Ganapati et al. (2014) Hmga2 regulates self-renewal of retinal progenitors. Development 141:4087-97