Development of new types of ES/iPS-retina for better synaptic integration

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K10913
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Mandai Michiko 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 多細胞システム形成研究センター, 副プロジェクトリーダー (80263086)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 網膜変性 / ES/iPS由来網膜 / 移植 / 遺伝改変 / シナプス形成

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We are developing transplantation therapy of ES/iPS-derived retinas in end-stage retinal degeneration. We have observed a possibility that remaining inner neurons including bipolar cells in the graft could sometimes interfere with the synapse formation between the host bipolar cells and graft photoreceptors. Yet, these graft inner cells are also important for graft photoreceptors to functionally mature, so we produced genetically engineered graft retina in which graft inner or bipolar cells would degenerate at around the timing of synaptogenesis. By producing such iPS/ES-retina by deleting some gene involved in bipolar cell maturation, we could obtain a promising results suggestive of better synapse formation and visual function.

Free Research Field

再生医療　眼科学