Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell in the microenviroment of retinitis pigmentosa

Abstract

CORRESPONDENCE TO: Fang-Tian Dong. Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China. d_fangtian@sina.com

Aim: To access the differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) in the microenvironment of retinal degeneration induced by the administration of sodium iodate.

Methods: In-vitro cultured Lewis rat MSC were injected into the sub-retinal space of NaIO(3) induced retinal degeneration rat eyes (30g/L NaIO(3) 100mg/kg). To observe the trace and differentiation of MSC by immuno-fluorescent method successively in 5 weeks after the surgery.

Results: The majority of the transplanted cells stay in retinal pigment epithelium layer and cones & rods layer. From the 2(nd) week after transplantation, the engrafted MSC express PCK and rhodopsin under fluorescent microscope.

Conclusion: MSC can survive mainly in the outer layer of retina in the microenvironment of retinal degeneration and differentiate forward the RPE cell and photoreceptor.

Keywords: NaIO3; differentiation; mesenchymal stem cell; retinal degeneration; transplantation in subretinal space.

Figures

Figure 1. BrdU labeled, MSCs red brown nucleus

Figure 2. After MSC sub-retinal transplantation

A: Brdu(+); B: Rhodopsin(+); C: PCK(+)