Comparative study between amniotic-fluid mesenchymal stem cells and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) stem cells ability to differentiate towards RPE cells.

Abstract

Dysfunction of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) is one of the first effects of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with consequent blindness. Hence, patients affected by this retinal disorder could benefit from a cell-based transplantation strategy for RPE. Actually, an effective protocol to approach this problem is lacking, though recently, it has been postulated the existence of a subpopulation of RPE stem cells (RPESCs) derived from adult RPE and able to reconstitute a functional RPE. On the other hand, the evidence related to the differentiative potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is continuously increasing. Among others, amniotic fluid-derived MSCs (AF-MSCs) may be a promising candidate, since these cells are characterized by high proliferation and differentiative potential. In this study, AF-MSCs and RPESCs were isolated, characterized to assay their stemness and induced to neuronal/retinal differentiation; specific RPE markers were then analyzed. Our results indicate that RPESCs are more suitable candidates for RPE replacement than AF-MSCs.

• Authors: Cesare Mariotti, Raffaella Lazzarini, Michele Nicolai, Andrea Saitta, Emanuele Orsini, Monia Orciani, Roberto Di Primio
• Journal: Cell and tissue research (Cell Tissue Res) Vol. 362 Issue 1 Pg. 21-31 (Oct 2015) ISSN: 1432-0878 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 25916690 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Amniotic Fluid (cytology, metabolism)
• Cell Differentiation
• Cell Proliferation
• Humans
• Macular Degeneration (genetics, metabolism)
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells (cytology, metabolism)
• Retinal Pigment Epithelium (cytology, metabolism)