Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Development: Extrapolating Basic Biology to Stem Cell Research
Santosh Gupta,
Lyubomyr Lytvynchuk,
Taras Ardan,
Hana Studenovska,
Georgina Faura,
Lars Eide,
Ljubo Znaor,
Slaven Erceg,
Knut Stieger,
Jan Motlik,
Kapil Bharti,
Goran Petrovski
Affiliations
Santosh Gupta
Center for Eye Research and Innovative Diagnostics, Department of Ophthalmology, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0450 Oslo, Norway
Lyubomyr Lytvynchuk
Department of Ophthalmology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, 35392 Giessen, Germany
Taras Ardan
Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 27721 Libechov, Czech Republic
Hana Studenovska
Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16206 Prague, Czech Republic
Georgina Faura
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
Lars Eide
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
Ljubo Znaor
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Split School of Medicine and University Hospital Centre, 21000 Split, Croatia
Slaven Erceg
Research Center “Principe Felipe”, Stem Cell Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, 46012 Valencia, Spain
Knut Stieger
Department of Ophthalmology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, 35392 Giessen, Germany
Jan Motlik
Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 27721 Libechov, Czech Republic
Kapil Bharti
Ocular and Stem Cell Translational Research Section, NEI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Goran Petrovski
Center for Eye Research and Innovative Diagnostics, Department of Ophthalmology, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0450 Oslo, Norway
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) forms an important cellular monolayer, which contributes to the normal physiology of the eye. Damage to the RPE leads to the development of degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Apart from acting as a physical barrier between the retina and choroidal blood vessels, the RPE is crucial in maintaining photoreceptor (PR) and visual functions. Current clinical intervention to treat early stages of AMD includes stem cell-derived RPE transplantation, which is still in its early stages of evolution. Therefore, it becomes essential to derive RPEs which are functional and exhibit features as observed in native human RPE cells. The conventional strategy is to use the knowledge obtained from developmental studies using various animal models and stem cell-based exploratory studies to understand RPE biogenies and developmental trajectory. This article emphasises such studies and aims to present a comprehensive understanding of the basic biology, including the genetics and molecular pathways of RPE development. It encompasses basic developmental biology and stem cell-based developmental studies to uncover RPE differentiation. Knowledge of the in utero developmental cues provides an inclusive methodology required for deriving RPEs using stem cells.
