Generation of human iPS cells derived from ocular tissues and their use for functional analysis, novel diagnostic technique and medical treatment

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24659770
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: National Research Institute for Child Health and Development
• Principal Investigator: AZUMA Noriyuki 独立行政法人国立成育医療研究センター, その他部局等, その他 (10159395)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): UMEZAWA Akihiro 国立成育医療研究センター, 再生医療センター, 副所長・再生医療センター長 (70213486)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 再生医学 / 遺伝学 / 遺伝子・細胞治療 / 角膜 / 網膜

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We generated primitive retinal tissues from human iPS cells, mouse iPS cells and mouse ES cells. We also generated self-induced retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) with functional axons from human induced pluripotent stem cells. After development of the optic vesicle from the induced stem cell embryoid body in three-dimensional culture, conversion to two-dimensional culture resulted in differentiation of RGCs. Axons extended radially from the margin of the clump. Induced RGCs expressed specific markers by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. The long, prominent axons contained neurofilaments and tau, and manifested anterograde axonal transport and sodium-dependent action potentials. The ability to generate RGCs with functional axons uniformly and at a high rate may contribute to both basic and clinical science, including embryology, neurology, pathognomy, and treatment of various optic nerve diseases that threaten vision

Free Research Field

眼科学