U.S. patent application number 14/764959 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-24 for method for generating retinal pigment epithelium (rpe) cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (ipscs).
This patent application is currently assigned to THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Serv. The applicant listed for this patent is THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN, as represented by THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SER, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN, as represented by THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SER. Invention is credited to Kapil Bharti, Janine Davis, Marc Ferrer-Alegre, Arvydas Maminishkis, Sheldon S. Miller.
Application Number | 20150368713 14/764959 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50150802 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150368713 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bharti; Kapil ; et
al. |
December 24, 2015 |
METHOD FOR GENERATING RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM (RPE) CELLS FROM
INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS (IPSCs)
Abstract
High efficiency methods for producing retinal pigment epithelial
cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are disclosed
herein. The iPSCs are produced from somatic cells, including
retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, such as fetal RPE stem
cells. In some embodiments, the iPSC include a tyrosinase promoter
operably linked to a marker. Methods are disclosed for using the
RPE cells, such as for treatment. Methods for screening for agents
that affect RPE differentiation are also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Bharti; Kapil; (Potomac,
MD) ; Davis; Janine; (Baltimore, MD) ;
Maminishkis; Arvydas; (Washington, DC) ;
Ferrer-Alegre; Marc; (Potomac, MD) ; Miller; Sheldon
S.; (Bethesda, MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN, as represented by THE SECRETARY,
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SER |
Bethesda |
MD |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN, as
represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human
Serv
Bethesda
MD
|
Family ID: |
50150802 |
Appl. No.: |
14/764959 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
January 31, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US14/14160 |
371 Date: |
July 30, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61759988 |
Feb 1, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
506/9 ; 435/34;
506/12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C12N 2501/41 20130101;
C12N 5/0621 20130101; A61P 27/06 20180101; C12Q 1/6881 20130101;
C12N 2501/415 20130101; C12N 2506/45 20130101; C12Q 2600/158
20130101; A61P 27/02 20180101; G01N 33/5058 20130101; C12N 2501/115
20130101; G01N 33/56966 20130101; C12Q 2600/178 20130101; A61P 9/10
20180101; C12N 2501/16 20130101; C12Q 2600/16 20130101; C12N
2501/999 20130101 |
International
Class: |
C12Q 1/68 20060101
C12Q001/68; G01N 33/50 20060101 G01N033/50; G01N 33/569 20060101
G01N033/569 |
Claims
1-22. (canceled)
23. A method for authenticating that a cell of interest is a
retinal pigment epithelial cell, comprising culturing an induced
pluripotent stem cell under conditions sufficient to form a retinal
pigment epithelial cell to produce a cell of interest; assaying
expression of a set of markers comprising MITF, PAX6 LHX2, TFEC,
CDH1, CDH3, CLDN 10, CLDN 16, CLDN 19, BEST1, TIMP3, TRPM1, TRPM3,
TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SIL1, MLANA, RAB27A,
OCA2, GPR143 (NM 000273), GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4,
RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13,
and CFTR, in the cell of interest; assaying the polarization of the
cell of interest; patch clamping the cell of interest and
determining the resting potential of the cell of interest; and
evaluating the fluid transport rate of the cell of interest;
wherein expression of MITF, PAX6, LHX2, TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10,
CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, TRPM1, TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT,
TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SIL1, MLANA, RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6,
MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3,
FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and CFTR, a resting potential of
about -50 to about -60 mV, and a fluid transport rate of about 5 to
about 10 .mu.l cm.sup.-2h.sup.-1 indicates that the cell of
interest is a retinal pigment epithelial cell.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: assaying expression
of miR204 and miR211 in the cell of interest; wherein expression of
MITF, PAX6, LHX2, TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1,
TIMP3, TRPM1, TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, SILV,
SIL1, MLANA, RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1,
RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2,
KCNJ13, and CFTR, expression of miR204 and miR211, a resting
potential of about -50 to about -60 mV and a fluid transport rate
of about 5 to about 10 .mu.l cm.sup.-2h.sup.-1 indicates that the
cell is a retinal pigment epithelial cell.
25-45. (canceled)
46. The method of claim 23, wherein assaying expression of a set of
markers comprises MITF, PAX6, LHX2, TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10,
CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, TRPM1, TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT,
TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SIL1, MLANA, RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6,
MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3,
FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and CFTR comprises detecting MITF
mRNA, PAX6 mRNA, LHX2 mRNA, TFEC mRNA, CDH1 mRNA, CDH3 mRNA, CLDN10
mRNA, CLDN16 mRNA, CLDN19 mRNA, BEST1 mRNA, TIMP3 mRNA, TRPM1 mRNA,
TRPM3 mRNA, TTR mRNA, VEGFA mRNA, CSPG5 mRNA, DCT mRNA, TYRP1 mRNA,
TYR mRNA, SILV mRNA, SIL1 mRNA, MLANA mRNA, RAB27A mRNA, OCA2 mRNA,
GPR143 mRNA, GPNMB mRNA, MYO6 mRNA, MYRIP mRNA, RPE65 mRNA, RBP1
mRNA, RBP4 mRNA, RDH5 mRNA, RDH11 mRNA, RLBP1 mRNA, MERTK mRNA,
ALDH1A3 mRNA, FBLN1 mRNA, SLC16A1 mRNA, KCNV2 mRNA, KCNJ13 mRNA,
and CFTR mRNA.
47. The method of claim 23, wherein assaying expression of a set of
markers comprises assaying MITF, PAX6, LHX2, TFEC, CDH1, CDH3,
CLDN10, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, TRPM1, TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA,
CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SIL1 MLANA, RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143,
GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK,
ALDH1A3, FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and CFTR comprises
detecting MITF protein, PAX6 protein, LHX2 protein, TFEC protein,
CDH1 protein, CDH3 protein, CLDN10 protein, CLDN16 protein, CLDN19
protein, BEST1 protein, TIMP3 protein, TRPM1 protein, TRPM3
protein, TTR protein, VEGFA protein, CSPG5 protein, DCT protein,
TYRP1 protein, TYR protein, SILV protein, SIL1 protein, MLANA
protein, RAB27A protein, OCA2 protein, GPR143 protein, GPNMB
protein, MYO6 protein, MYRIP protein, RPE65 protein, RBP1 protein,
RBP4 protein, RDH5 protein, RDH11 protein, RLBP1 protein, MERTK
protein, ALDH1A3 protein, FBLN1 protein, SLC16A1 protein, KCNV2
protein, KCNJ13 protein, and CFTR protein.
48. A method for authenticating that a cell of interest is a
retinal pigment epithelial cell, comprising culturing an induced
pluripotent stem cell under conditions sufficient to form a retinal
pigment epithelial cell to form a cell of interest; and assaying
expression of a set of markers comprising MITF, PAX6, TFEC, CLDN16,
CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, DC1, TYRP1, TYR, OCA2, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP,
RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, and MERTK in the cell of
interest; wherein expression of MITF, PAX6, TFEC, CLDN16, CLDN19,
BEST1, TIMP3, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, OCA2, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65,
RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, and MERTK indicates the cell of
interest is a retinal pigment epithelial cell.
49. The method of claim 48, further comprising assaying expression
of miR204 and miR211 in the cell of interest; wherein expression of
MITF, PAX6, TFEC, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, DCT, TYRP1, TYR,
OCA2, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1,
MERTK, miR204 and miR211 indicates that the cell of interest is a
retinal pigment epithelial cell.
50. The method of claim 49, further comprising assaying the
polarization of the cell of interest; wherein expression of MITF,
PAX6, TFEC, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, OCA2,
GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, and
MERTK, and expression of miR204 and miR211 indicates the cell of
interest is a retinal pigment epithelial cell.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein the cell of interest has an
apical surface and a basal surface, and wherein assaying
polarization comprises measuring selective CO.sub.2 permeability of
the apical surface of the cell of interest.
52. The method of claim 50, further comprising patch clamping the
cell of interest and determining the resting potential of the cell;
wherein expression of MITF, PAX6, TFEC, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1,
TIMP3, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, OCA2, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1,
RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, and MERTK, expression of miR204 and
miR211, and a resting potential of about -50 to about -60 mV
indicates the cell of interest is a retinal pigment epithelial
cell.
53. The method of claim 52, further comprising evaluating the fluid
transport rate of the cell of interest; wherein expression of MITF,
PAX6, TFEC, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, OCA2,
GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, and
MERTK, expression of miR204 and miR211, a resting potential of
about -50 to about -60 mV, and a fluid transport rate of about 5 to
about 10 .mu.l cm.sup.-2h.sup.-1 indicates that the cell of
interest is a retinal pigment epithelial cell.
54. The method of claim 53, wherein evaluating the fluid transport
rate of the cell of interest comprises measuring the fluid
transport rate with a capacitance probe.
55. The method of claim 48, wherein assaying the expression of a
set of markers comprises assaying MITF, PAX6, TFEC, CLDN16, CLDN19,
BEST1, TIMP3, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, OCA2, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65,
RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, and MERTK comprises detecting MITF
mRNA, PAX6 mRNA, TFEC mRNA, CLDN16 mRNA, CLDN19 mRNA, BEST1 mRNA,
TIMP3 mRNA, DCT mRNA, TYRP1 mRNA, TYR mRNA, OCA2 mRNA, GPNMB mRNA,
MYO6 mRNA, MYRIP mRNA, RPE65 mRNA, RBP1 mRNA, RBP4 mRNA, RDH5 mRNA,
RDH11 mRNA, RLBP1 mRNA, and MERTK mRNA.
56. The method of claim 48, wherein assaying the expression of a
set of markers comprises assaying MITF, PAX6, TFEC, CLDN16, CLDN19,
BEST1, TIMP3, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, OCA2, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65,
RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, and MERTK comprises detecting MITF
protein, PAX6 protein, TFEC protein, CLDN16 protein, CLDN19
protein, BEST1 protein, TIMP3 protein, DCT protein, TYRP1 protein,
TYR protein, OCA2 protein, GPNMB protein, MYO6 protein, MYRIP
protein, RPE65 protein, RBP1 protein, RBP4 protein, RDH5 protein,
RDH11 protein, RLBP1 protein, and MERTK protein.
57. A method of determining if an induced pluripotent stem cell has
differentiated into a retinal pigment epithelial cell; culturing an
induced pluripotent stem cell under conditions sufficient to form a
retinal pigment epithelial cell to produce a cell of interest;
assaying expression of SOX2, PAX6, RPE65, RDH5, TRPM1, and BEST1 in
the cell of interest; assaying the polarization of the cell of
interest; patch clamping the cell of interest to determine the
resting potential; and evaluating the fluid transport rate of the
cell; wherein a decrease in expression of SOX2 and an increase in
the expression of PAX6, RPE65, RDH5, TRPM1, and BEST1 in the cell
of interest as compared to the induced pluripotent stem cell, a
resting potential of about -50 to about -60 mV and a fluid
transport rate of about 5 to about 10 .mu.l cm.sup.-2h.sup.-1
indicates that the cell derived from the induced pluripotent stem
cell is a retinal pigment epithelial cell.
58. The method of claim 57, wherein evaluating the fluid transport
rate of the cell of interest comprises measuring the fluid
transport rate with a capacitance probe.
59. The method of claim 57, wherein the cell of interest has an
apical surface and a basal surface, and wherein assaying
polarization comprises measuring selective CO.sub.2 permeability of
the apical surface of the cell of interest.
60. The method of claim 57, further comprising assaying expression
of miR204 and miR211 in the cell of interest; wherein the decrease
in expression of SOX2 and the increase in the expression of PAX6,
RPE65, RDH5, TRPM1, and BEST1 as compared to the induced
pluripotent stem cell, expression of miR204 and miR211, a resting
potential of about -50 to about -60 mV and the fluid transport rate
of about 5 to about 10 .mu.l cm.sup.-2h.sup.-1 indicates that the
cell derived from the induced pluripotent stem cell is a retinal
pigment epithelial cell.
61. The method of claim 23, wherein the cell of interest is
transformed with a heterologous nucleic acid molecule encoding a
marker, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid molecule is operably
linked to a retinal pigment epithelial cell specific promoter.
62. The method of claim 61, wherein the retinal specific promoter
is a tyrosinase promoter.
63. The method of claim 61, further comprising measuring
transepithelial potential of the cell of interest using calomel
electrodes in an Ussing chamber.
64. The method of claim 63, wherein assaying expression of
expression of MITF, PAX6, LHX2, TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10, CLDN16,
CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, TRPM1, TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1,
TYR, SILV, SILL MLANA, RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP,
RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1,
SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and CFTR comprises performing a multiplex
assay to quantitate expression of expression of all of MITF, PAX6,
LHX2, TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3,
TRPM1, TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SILL MLANA,
RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5,
RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and
CFTR.
65. The method of claim 63, wherein assaying expression of
expression of MITF, PAX6, LHX2, TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10, CLDN16,
CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, TRPM1, TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1,
TYR, SILV, SU, MLANA, RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP,
RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1,
SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and CFTR comprises performing quantitative
polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect expression of MITF,
PAX6, LHX2, TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3,
TRPM1, TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SILL MLANA,
RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5,
RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and
CFTR mRNA.
66. The method of claim 64, wherein assaying expression of miR204
and miR211 comprises performing qPCR to detect expression of miR204
and miR211.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No.
61/759,988, filed Feb. 1, 2013, which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] This disclosure is related to the field of retinal pigment
epithelium (RPE) cells, and specifically to methods for producing
RPE cells from stem cells.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The retina is a layer of specialized light sensitive neural
tissue located at the inner surface of the eye of vertebrates.
Light reaching the retina after passing the cornea, the lens and
the vitreous humor is transformed into chemical and electrical
events that trigger nerve impulses. The cells that are responsible
for transduction, the process for converting light into these
biological processes are specialized neurons called photoreceptor
cells.
[0004] The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a polarized
monolayer of densely packed hexagonal cells in the mammalian eye
that separates the neural retina from the choroid. The cells in the
RPE contain pigment granules and perform a crucial role in retinal
physiology by forming a blood-retinal barrier and closely
interacting with photoreceptors to maintain visual function by
absorbing the light energy focused by the lens on the retina. These
cells also transport ions, water, and metabolic end products from
the subretinal space to the blood and take up nutrients such as
glucose, retinol, and fatty acids from the blood and deliver these
nutrients to photoreceptors.
[0005] RPE cells are also part of the visual cycle of retinal:
Since photoreceptors are unable to reisomerize all-trans-retinal,
which is formed after photon absorption, back into 11-cis-retinal,
retinal is transported to the RPE where it is reisomerized to
11-cis-retinal and transported back to the photoreceptors.
[0006] Many ophthalmic diseases, such as (age-related) macular
degeneration, macular dystrophies such as Stargardt's and
Stargardt's-like disease, Best disease (vitelliform macular
dystrophy), and adult vitelliform dystrophy or subtypes of
retinitis pigmentosa, are associated with a degeneration or
deterioration of the retina itself or of the RPE. It has been
demonstrated in animal models that photoreceptor rescue and
preservation of visual function could be achieved by subretinal
transplantation of RPE cells (Coffey et al. Nat. Neurosci. 2002:5,
53-56; Lin et al. Curr. Eye Res. 1996:15, 1069-1077; Little et al.
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1996:37, 204-211; Sauve et al.
Neuroscience 2002:114, 389-401). There is a need to find ways to
produce RPE cells, such as from human stem cells, that can be used
for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases and
injuries.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] High efficiency methods for producing retinal pigment
epithelial cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are
disclosed herein. The iPSCs are produced from somatic cells,
including retinal pigment epithelial cells, such as fetal retinal
pigment epithelial stem cells.
[0008] In some embodiments, the method for producing human retinal
pigment epithelial cells includes producing embryoid bodies from
human induced pluripotent stem cells. The embryoid bodies are
cultured in a first medium comprising two Wnt pathway inhibitors
and a Nodal pathway inhibitor. The embryoid bodies are plated on a
tissue culture substrate in a second medium. In certain
embodiments, the second medium (a) does not include basic
fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (b) includes a basic fibroblast
growth factor (bFGF) inhibitor, the two Wnt pathway inhibitors, and
the Nodal pathway inhibitor; (c) includes about 20 to about 90 ng
of Noggin; and (d) includes about 1 to about 3% knock out serum
replacement to form differentiating retinal pigment epithelial
cells. The differentiating retinal pigment epithelial cells are
then cultured in a third medium comprising ACTIVAN A and WNT3a. The
cells are then cultured in retinal pigment epithelial cell (RPE)
medium that includes about 5% fetal serum, a canonical WNT
inhibitor, a non-canonical WNT inducer, and inhibitors of the Sonic
and FGF pathway to produce human retinal pigment epithelial
cells.
[0009] In additional embodiments, methods are disclosed for
detecting RPE cells, or confirming that a cell is a RPE cell. In
yet other embodiments, methods are disclosed for determining if a
test agent affects the production of RPE cells from an iPSC. In
further embodiments, methods are provided to identify a test agent
that increases gene expression and can be used as a therapeutic
agent. In yet other embodiments, methods are provided to identify a
test agent that increases RPE survival in response to a proteotoxic
insult or stress.
[0010] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description of a several embodiments, which proceeds with reference
to the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the RPE-specific construct,
which includes a constitutive promoter operably linked to a marker
(for example, red fluorescent protein, RFP) and the RPE-specific
tyrosinase promoter operably linked to a second marker (for
example, green fluorescent protein, GFP). Digital images of the
results achieved are also shown. The RPE-specific
promoter/enhancer-GFP construct was first tested in a transgenic
mouse. RPE-specific GFP expression (left image) was achieved. This
construct was then combined with a constitutive RFP and transduced
into iPSCs. At the iPSC stage only RFP is expressed (right image).
This construct can be used to produce an iPSC line expressing RPE
specific GFP.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the steps in
differentiation of RPE from human iPSCs. The protocol was optimized
to obtain RPE cells with high efficiency, while inhibiting other
lineages. Markers for the different stages are shown.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram and digital images of
RPE-Specific GFP Expression in the Reporter iPSC line. GFP positive
cells appear when cells reach committed RPE stage, which begins 4
weeks after differentiation begins. GFP positive cells acquire
epithelial character and begin to pigment in one more week. The
expression of reporter after 28 and 35 days in culture is
shown.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a table of results from FACS purified GFP positive
cells, showing the cells are enriched for expression of early RPE
genes. GFP positive cells and negative cells from the same dish
were purified by FACS and the expression of RPE-specific markers
was compared in the two populations. GFP positive cells are several
fold enriched in the expression of RPE-specific genes.
[0015] FIGS. 5A to 5B are a set of digital images showing FACS
purified GFP positive cells differentiate into pigmented RPE cells.
When FACS purified GFP positive and negative cells were re-seeded
on to culture plates, only GFP positive cells grew to form
homogenous pigmented cultures. This demonstrated that GFP
expression truly represents RPE fate in this iPSC line
[0016] FIG. 6 is a set of digital images showing embryoid body (EB)
size affects RPE differentiation. Differences in the number of
pigmented cells obtained using varying size EBs are shown.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a set of digital images showing embryoid body (EB)
number affects RPE differentiation. FACS analysis shows that the
number of GFP positive cells in the sixth week of the
differentiation process. The number of GFP positive cells changes
as the number of EBs plated per well of the culture plate
change.
[0018] FIGS. 8-10 are tables showing the fold change in PAX6
expression with different culture conditions.
[0019] FIGS. 11-13 are tables showing the fold change in MITF
expression using different culture conditions. MITF expression
should start to increase around week 3 of differentiation, when the
cells are getting to the optic vesicle stage.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a table showing the percent GFP positive cells
(representing cells of the RPE fate) using different culture
conditions.
[0021] FIG. 15 is a set of digital images showing the
differentiation of iPSC into RPE. The cells were cultured using the
media and protocols listed in Example 1. For these studies, the KO
serum was the only component that was varied.
[0022] FIG. 16 is a set of digital images showing that canonical
WNT and WNT3a improves the efficiency of production of RPE from
iPSCs. WNT3A is a canonical WNT signaling regulator. The digital
images show pigmented colonies in each dish after eight weeks of
culture. For these experiments MEDIUM 2 (FGF2--0.5ng/m1)+MEDIUM 3
(NA or NAW), wherein NA=Nicotinamide & ACTIVIN,
NAW=Nicotinamide, ACTIVIN & WNT3a. bFGF (FGF2) was included
0.5ng/ml in medium 2.
[0023] FIG. 17 is a set of digital images and plots showing WNT3a
significantly increases the number of GFP positive cells in
differentiating iPSC cultures. The upper panel shows GFP positive
and RFP positive cells in a dish. The lower panel shows FACS
analysis for the GFP signal. For these experiments, MEDIUM 2
(FGF2--0.5ng/m1)+MEDIUM 3 (NA or NAW), wherein NA=Nicotinamide
& ACTIVIN, NAW=Nicotinamide, ACTIVIN & WNT3a.
[0024] FIG. 18 is a set of digital images and plots showing the use
of a GFP reporter to optimize iPSC to RPE Differentiation. Culture
in the third medium significantly improved the production of RPE
cells, as evidence by GFP expression and production of pigment,
after 6 weeks.
[0025] Medium 2--NO FGF2+PD 0325901 (10 mM)+Noggin
(50ng/u1)+DKK1
[0026] Medium 3--Activin A (150 ng/m1)+WNT3a (100 ng/m1)
[0027] Medium 4--See the examples section below.
[0028] FIG. 19 is a digital image showing that WNT3a generates RPE
cells with homogeneous pigmentation. Cells from these dishes were
trypsinized and replated into T-25 flasks. For these experimants,
MEDIUM 2 (FGF2--0.5ng/m1)+MEDIUM 3 (NA or NAW), wherein
NA=Nicotinamide & ACTIVIN, NAW=Nicotinamide, ACTIVIN &
WNT3a.]
[0029] FIG. 20 is a digital image of iPSC-derived RPE, NAW treated
(92% GFP positive). At higher resolution these cells look quite
homogenous in terms of RPE morphology, GFP expression, and
pigmentation.
[0030] FIG. 21 is a table showing that inhibition of endogenous
pathways (WNT, FGF, SONIC) in iPSC-RPE produces fully-mature RPE
cultures Medium #4-5% RPE medium+inhibitors of WNT, FGF, SONIC. WNT
inhibitors include DKK1 and non-canonical WNT (WNT5a), FGF
inhibitor SU5042, and SONIC inhibitor Cyclopamine.
[0031] FIG. 22 is a set of graphs and a Venn diagram illustrating
RPE gene expression is iPSC-RPE. The expression of a total 384
genes was evaluated (Strunnikova et al., Hum Mol Genet. 2010 June
15; 19(12):2468-86). The top 350 genese were selected; 34 genes
were controls. A custom 384-well plate was developed to analyze the
expression of all these genes by real-time PCR. This plate/array
can be used to authenticate iPSC-RPE cells. They include RPE gene
signature, fetal-RPE enriched genes, and adult-RPE enriched genes.
A comparison of .about.100 fetal-RPE enriched genes among three
iPSC lines derived RPE is shown.
[0032] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram and graphs evidencing the
physiology of iPSC derived RPE. Selective CO.sub.2 permeability of
the apical surface of RPE cells is shown (Adijanto et al., J Gen
Physiol. 2009 June; 133(6):603-22). Photoreceptors secrete CO.sub.2
towards the apical surface of RPE cells. Therefore, this surface
has been evolutionarily selected to trap CO.sub.2. This function
can be measured in vitro by changing CO.sub.2 concentrations in the
apical or the basal baths of RPE cells growing in transwells. If
RPE cells trap CO.sub.2, they respond by a reduction in pH, which
can be measured by a ratio-metric dye. iPSC-derived RPE function
similar to the native RPE for differential CO.sub.2 uptake only on
the apical side.
[0033] FIG. 24 is a set of graphs showing changes in
electrophysiological properties of iPSC-derived RPE cells by
changes in extracellular ionic concentrations. When light hits the
photoreceptors, they depolarize by shutting down their potassium
(K) channels. This reduces the concentration of K-ions in between
photoreceptors and RPE (subretinal space) from 5 mM to 1 mM. RPE
cells respond to this changing concentration by hyperpolarizing and
opening their K channels to increase the subretinal K concentration
back to 5 mM.
[0034] FIGS. 25A-25D are schematic diagrams, digital images and
graphs. (A) Schematic of the step-wise protocol for differentiation
of iPSCs into RPE, authentication of RPE cells, and their use for a
multiplex screening. The different type of media used throughout
the process and the timeline of the process are shown. (B)
Characterization of the iPSC line used for generating RPE for
screening. Fully confluent iPSCs were stained with antibodies
against indicated pluripotency markers. Cells express high levels
of all these markers. Bright field images show iPSC colony
morphology. (C) qRT-PCR analysis of pluripotency markers NANOG,
OCT4, SOX2, c-MYC, and KLF4 in iPSC line used for RPE
differentiation. Fibroblasts and embryonic stem cell RNA are used
for comparison. (D) Immunostaining of iPSCs spontaneously
differentiated in vitro after bFGF withdrawal. iPSCs are able to
generate cells from the three germ layers (AFP=endoderm;
TUJ1=ectoderm; SMA=mesoderm). The bar represents 50 microns.
KSR--knockout serum replacement containing medium,
NIC--nicotinamide.
[0035] FIGS. 26A-26D show authentication of iPSC-derived RPE. RPE
cells were grown on semi-permeable transwells until fully confluent
and characterized by immunostaining for RPE markers (A), electron
microscopy (B), intracellular calcium responses (C),
electrophysiological responses (D). (A) RPE cells were stained with
antibodies against EZRIN, DCT, SLC16A1, CLCN2 (grey) and ZO1
(bright lines). (B) Electron micrograph of a section of RPE growing
on a semi-permeable transwell. Cells show several features typical
of RPE including extensive apical process, apically localized
pigmented melanosomes (me), and tight-junctions (tj) between
adjoining cells. (C) Similar to primary fetal RPE cells,
iPSC-derived RPE show a baseline calcium concentration of 110 nM.
Addition of ATP to the apical bath activates apical P2Y2 receptors
resulting in a spike in intracellular calcium concentration. (D)
Apical and basal membrane resting potentials were measured in
response to changing potassium (K) and ATP concentrations in the
apical bath Similar to the primary cultures of human RPE, these
cells hyperpolarize when K concentration is reduced to 1 mM and
depolarize when ATP is added to the apical bath.
[0036] FIGS. 27A-27C show a schematic of the multiplex assay
performed in a 96/384-well plate format. (A) Brief summary and the
time line for the multiplex assay performed using iPSC-derived RPE.
Assay can be performed in a day and a half with full automation.
(B) Magnetic beads labeled with a unique fluorophores capture
specific mRNAs through anti-sense oligo-nucleotide interactions of
capture probe (CP) and multiple capture extenders (CEs). CE is a
branched oligo-nucleotide; one side of it is anti-sense to CP and
the other side has variable sequence that it anti-sense to the
specific mRNA. Label extender (LE) also a branched oligo-nucleotide
that binds to different regions of the mRNA and allows the binding
of pre-amplifier and amplifier oligos through anti-sense
interactions. Biotin containing label probes and
streptavidin-conjugated phycoerythrin (SAPE) bind to amplifier
oligos and are detected using the Luminex flow reader. (C) Table
summarizes mRNA detected in this assay, their accession numbers,
length, and the region where capture extenders and label extenders
bind.
[0037] FIGS. 28A-28G show proof of principle for multiplex gene
expression assay in 96-well plates. (A-D) Bright field images of
iPSCs and RPE cells growing in a 96-well plate. (A) iPSCs (28B, C)
iPSC-derived RPE seeded at two different cell densities (25,000
cells/well and 50,000 cells/well) (D) Primary human fetal RPE
(50,000 cells/well). (E-H) Results obtained in the multiplex assay.
(E, G) Expression of indicated genes was normalized to geomean of
HPRT1 and B2M genes. Results are show as fold change in gene
expression in iPSC-derived RPE seeded at lower cell density (white
bar) and seeded at higher cell density (black bar) normalized
either to undifferentiated iPSCs (28E) or to the primary fetal RPE
(G). (F, H) Pearson's correlation analysis between gene expression
results obtained from the qRT-PCR assay and the results obtained
from the multiplex gene expression assay performed in 96-well
plates. The correlation is significant for iPSCs (r=0.687) and
highly significant for primary RPE cells (r=0.751).
[0038] FIG. 29 is a bar graph showing the sensitivity of
iPSC-derived RPE cells to various proteotoxic stressors. RPE cells
differentiated from the reporter iPS cell line were grown in
384-well plates and treated with indicated stressors (conc. 10
.mu.M). GRP signals were measured four days after the treatment.
Thapsigargin, A23187, and 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose affected RPE
phenotype.
[0039] FIG. 30 is a digital image showing that aphidicolin
treatment generates polarized retinal pigment epithelia cells. The
retinal pigment epithelial cells treated with aphidicolon treatment
have more extensive apical process as compared to non-treated
cells.
[0040] FIG. 31 is a set of graphs showing that aphidicolin
treatment improves the function of iPSC derived retinal pigment
epithelial cells. RPE cells treated with aphidicolin have higher
transepithelial resistance, membrane potential, and show better
physiological responses such as the ability to hyperpolarize in
response to low potassium concentration or ATP application on the
apical side.
[0041] FIGS. 32A-32D are digital images showing alginate coating
enhances cell viability and reduces cell detachment during
cryopreservation. Cell death assessed by ethidium homodimer-1
staining (grey). (A) Monolayer cryopreserved without alginate
treatment using CRYOSTOR.RTM. CS10 solution. (B) Monolayer
cryopreserved with alginate coating using CRYOSTOR.RTM. CS10
solution. (C) Monolayer cryopreserved without alginate coating
using 10% DMSO media. (D) Monolayer cryopreserved with alginate
coating using 10% DMSO media.
[0042] FIGS. 33A-33E are a set of digital images showing the
protocol for growing iPSC-derived RPE on an artificial
biodegradable scaffold using a SNAPWELL.TM. system.
[0043] FIGS. 34A-34B are digital images showing pigmentation
following culture of iPSCs in 10% (A) or 1.5% KOSR in RDM for the
first 3 weeks of the differentiation protocol and photographed
after 16 weeks in culture.
[0044] FIG. 35A-35G show the proof of principle for multiplex gene
expression assay in 384-well plates. Bright field images of
iPSC-derived RPE (A, B) and human fetal RPE (C, D) seeded at two
different cell densities growing in 384-well plates. (E, G) Fold
change in gene expression in iPSC-derived RPE seeded at lower cell
density (white bar) and seeded at higher cell density (black bar)
normalized to the higher cell density of primary fetal RPE.
Expression of indicated genes was normalized to geomean of HPRT1
and B2M housekeeping genes. Almost identical results were obtained
with high bead number (E) and low bead number (G). Pearson's
correlation analysis shows a very high correlation between results
obtained from the qRT-PCR assay and the results obtained from
384-well multiplex gene expression assay. The coefficient values
are r=0.908 and r=0.891 respectively for different number of
beads.
[0045] FIGS. 36A-36F show the detection range of probes used for
the multiplex assay. Four fold serial dilution of (A) purified
human RPE, (B) iPSCs, (C) iPSC-derived RPE (low density), (D)
iPSC-derived RPE (high density), (E) primary fetal RPE (low
density), and (F) primary fetal RPE (high density) were used to
determine range of detection of probe sets used for the multiplex
assay. R2 value for each probe was more than 0.9 suggesting a
linear range of detection over 16-fold dilution of the lysates.
SEQUENCES
[0046] The nucleic and amino acid sequences are shown using
standard letter abbreviations for nucleotide bases, and one or
three letter code for amino acids, as defined in 37 C.F.R. 1.822.
Only one strand of each nucleic acid sequence is shown, but the
complementary strand is understood as included by any reference to
the displayed strand.
[0047] SEQ ID NO: 1 is the nucleic acid sequence of an exemplary
human tyrosinase enhancer.
[0048] SEQ ID NO: 2 is an exemplary promoter sequence.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS
[0049] High efficiency methods for producing retinal pigment
epithelial cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are
disclosed herein. The iPSCs are produced from somatic cells,
including retinal pigment epithelial cells, such as fetal retinal
pigment epithelial stem cells. In some embodiments, the cells are
human.
[0050] The methods disclosed herein are used to produce large
numbers of differentiated RPE cells for use in screening assays, to
study the basic biology of the RPE, and as therapeutics. The RPE
cells can include a tyrosinase enhancer operably linked to a
nucleic acid encoding a marker. In some embodiments, RPE cells
produced using the methods disclosed herein can be formulated and
used to treat retinal degenerative diseases. Thus, compositions are
disclosed that include RPE cells, including substantially purified
preparations of RPE cells. Screening assays are also disclosed for
the identification of agents that modulate RPE cell proliferation
and/or alter RPE cell differentiation. Agents identified using such
screening assays may be used in vitro or in vivo.
Terms
[0051] Unless otherwise noted, technical terms are used according
to conventional usage. Definitions of common terms in molecular
biology may be found in Benjamin Lewin, Genes V, published by
Oxford University Press, 1994 (ISBN 0-19-854287-9); Kendrew et al.
(eds.), The Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology, published by
Blackwell Science Ltd., 1994 (ISBN 0-632-02182-9); and Robert A.
Meyers (ed.), Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: a Comprehensive
Desk Reference, published by VCH Publishers, Inc., 1995 (ISBN
1-56081-569-8).
[0052] In order to facilitate review of the various embodiments of
this disclosure, the following explanations of specific terms are
provided:
[0053] Activin: Members of the transforming growth factor beta
(TGF-beta) superfamily which participate in regulation of several
biological processes, including cell differentiation and
proliferation. Activin A is a member of this family that mediates
its biological effects through a complex of transmembrane receptor
serine/threonine kinases, and binds to specific Activin A
receptors. It is a dimer composed of two subunits. Activin A
participates in regulation of stem cell maintenance, via
SMAD-dependent activation transcription of marker of pluripotency
like POU class 5 homeobox 1 (Oct-3/4), nanog, nodal, and
nodal-signaling regulators, Left-right determination factor 1 and 2
(Lefty-B and Lefty-A). Activin A also stimulates transcription of
several hormones such as Gonadotropin-releasing hormone. An
exemplary sequence for Activin A is provided in GENBANK.RTM.
Accession No. NM.sub.--002192.
[0054] Agent: Any protein, nucleic acid molecule (including
chemically modified nucleic acids), compound, small molecule,
organic compound, inorganic compound, or other molecule of
interest. Agent can include a therapeutic agent, a diagnostic agent
or a pharmaceutical agent. A therapeutic or pharmaceutical agent is
one that alone or together with an additional compound induces the
desired response (such as inducing a therapeutic or prophylactic
effect when administered to a subject).
[0055] Agonist or Inducer: An agent that binds to a receptor of a
cell or a ligand of such a receptor and triggers a response by that
cell, often mimicking the action of a naturally occurring
substance. In one embodiment, a Frizzled (Fzd) agonist binds to a
Fzd receptor and potentiates or enhances the Wnt/beta-catenin
signaling pathway.
[0056] Alter: A change in an effective amount of a substance or
parameter of interest, such as a polynucleotide, polypeptide or a
property of a cell. An alteration in polypeptide or polynucleotide
or enzymatic activity can affect a physiological property of a
cell, such as the differentiation, proliferation, or senescence of
the cell. The amount of the substance can be changed by a
difference in the amount of the substance produced, by a difference
in the amount of the substance that has a desired function, or by a
difference in the activation of the substance. The change can be an
increase or a decrease. The alteration can be in vivo or in vitro.
In several embodiments, altering is at least about a 50%, 60%, 70%,
80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% increase or decrease in
the effective amount (level) of a substance, the proliferation
and/or survival of a cells, or the activity of a protein, such as
an enzyme.
[0057] Amplification: of a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., a DNA or
RNA molecule) refers to use of a technique that increases the
number of copies of a nucleic acid molecule in a sample. An example
of amplification is polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in which a
sample is contacted with a pair of oligonucleotide primers under
conditions that allow for the hybridization of the primers to a
nucleic acid template in the sample. The primers are extended under
suitable conditions, dissociated from the template, re-annealed,
extended, and dissociated to amplify the number of copies of the
nucleic acid. The product of amplification can be characterized by
electrophoresis, restriction endonuclease cleavage patterns,
oligonucleotide hybridization or ligation, and/or nucleic acid
sequencing using standard techniques.
[0058] Other examples of amplification include quantitative
real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), strand displacement
amplification, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,311;
transcription-free isothermal amplification, as disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,033,881; repair chain reaction amplification, as
disclosed in PCT publication WO 90/01069; ligase chain reaction
amplification, as disclosed in European patent publication
EP-A-320,308; gap filling ligase chain reaction amplification, as
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,930; and NASBA RNA
transcription-free amplification, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,025,134.
[0059] Animal: Living multi-cellular vertebrate organisms, a
category that includes, for example, mammals and birds. The term
mammal includes both human and non-human mammals. Similarly, the
term "subject" includes both human and veterinary subjects, for
example, non-human primates, dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, pigs,
mice, rats, and cows.
[0060] Antagonist or Inhibitor: An agent that blocks or dampens a
biochemical or biological response when bound to a receptor or a
ligand of the receptor. Antagonists mediate their effects through
receptor interactions by preventing agonist-induced responses. In
one embodiment, a Frizzled (Fzd) antagonist binds to a Fzd receptor
or to a Fzd ligand (such as Wnt) and inhibits the Wnt/beta-catenin
signaling pathway.
[0061] Antibody: A polypeptide ligand comprising at least a light
chain or heavy chain immunoglobulin variable region which
specifically recognizes and binds an epitope of an antigen.
Antibodies are composed of a heavy and a light chain, each of which
has a variable region, termed the variable heavy (V.sub.H) region
and the variable light (V.sub.L) region. Together, the VH region
and the V.sub.L region are responsible for binding the antigen
recognized by the antibody.
[0062] Antibodies include intact immunoglobulins and the variants
and portions of antibodies well known in the art, such as Fab
fragments, Fab' fragments, F(ab)'2 fragments, single chain Fv
proteins ("scFv"), and disulfide stabilized Fv proteins ("dsFv"). A
scFv protein is a fusion protein in which a light chain variable
region of an immunoglobulin and a heavy chain variable region of an
immunoglobulin are bound by a linker, while in dsFvs, the chains
have been mutated to introduce a disulfide bond to stabilize the
association of the chains. The term also includes genetically
engineered forms such as chimeric antibodies (for example,
humanized murine antibodies), heteroconjugate antibodies (such as,
bispecific antibodies). See also, Pierce Catalog and Handbook,
1994-1995 (Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill.); Kuby, J.,
Immunology, 3.sup.rd Ed., W. H. Freeman & Co., New York,
1997.
[0063] Typically, a naturally occurring immunoglobulin has heavy
(H) chains and light (L) chains interconnected by disulfide bonds.
There are two types of light chain, lambda (.lamda.) and kappa (k).
There are five main heavy chain classes (or isotypes) which
determine the functional activity of an antibody molecule: IgM,
IgD, IgG, IgA and IgE.
[0064] Differentiation: Refers to the process whereby relatively
unspecialized cells (such as embryonic stem cells or other stem
cells) acquire specialized structural and/or functional features
characteristic of mature cells. Similarly, "differentiate" refers
to this process. Typically, during differentiation, cellular
structure alters and tissue-specific proteins appear.
[0065] Embryoid Bodies: Three-dimensional aggregates of pluripotent
stem cells. These cells can undergo differentiation into cells of
the endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. In contrast to monolayer
cultures, the spheroid structures that are formed when pluripotent
stem cells aggregate enables the non-adherent culture of EBs in
suspension, which is useful for bioprocessing approaches. The
three-dimensional structure, including the establishment of complex
cell adhesions and paracrine signaling within the EB
microenvironment, enables differentiation and morphogenesis.
[0066] Embryo: A cellular mass obtained by one or more divisions of
a zygote or an activated oocyte with an artificially reprogrammed
nucleus without regard to whether it has been implanted into a
female. A "morula" is the preimplantation embryo 3-4 days after
fertilization, when it is a solid mass, generally composed of 12-32
cells (blastomeres). A "blastocyst" refers to a preimplantation
embryo in placental mammals (about 3 days after fertilization in
the mouse, about 5 days after fertilization in humans) of about
30-150 cells. The blastocyst stage follows the morula stage, and
can be distinguished by its unique morphology. The blastocyst is
generally a sphere made up of a layer of cells (the trophectoderm),
a fluid-filled cavity (the blastocoel or blastocyst cavity), and a
cluster of cells on the interior (the inner cell mass, ICM). The
ICM, consisting of undifferentiated cells, gives rise to what will
become the fetus if the blastocyst is implanted in a uterus.
[0067] Embryonic stem cells: Embryonic cells derived from the inner
cell mass of blastocysts or morulae, optionally that have been
serially passaged as cell lines. The term includes cells isolated
from one or more blastomeres of an embryo, preferably without
destroying the remainder of the embryo. The term also includes
cells produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer. "Human embryonic
stem cells" (hES cells) includes embryonic cells derived from the
inner cell mass of human blastocysts or morulae, optionally that
have been serially passaged as cell lines. The hES cells may be
derived from fertilization of an egg cell with sperm or DNA,
nuclear transfer, parthenogenesis, or by means to generate hES
cells with homozygosity in the HLA region. Human ES cells can be
produced or derived from a zygote, blastomeres, or
blastocyst-staged mammalian embryo produced by the fusion of a
sperm and egg cell, nuclear transfer, parthenogenesis, or the
reprogramming of chromatin and subsequent incorporation of the
reprogrammed chromatin into a plasma membrane to produce an
embryonic cell. Human embryonic stem cells include, but are not
limited to, MA01, MAO9, ACT-4, No. 3, H1, H7, H9, H14 and ACT30
embryonic stem cells. Human embryonic stem cells, regardless of
their source or the particular method use to produce them, can be
identified based on (i) the ability to differentiate into cells of
all three germ layers, (ii) expression of at least Oct-4 and
alkaline phosphatase, and (iii) ability to produce teratomas when
transplanted into immunocompromised animals.
[0068] Expand: A process by which the number or amount of cells in
a cell culture is increased due to cell division. Similarly, the
terms "expansion" or "expanded" refers to this process. The terms
"proliferate," "proliferation" or "proliferated" may be used
interchangeably with the words "expand," "expansion", or
"expanded." Typically, during an expansion phase, the cells do not
differentiate to form mature cells, but divide to form more
cells.
[0069] Expression: The process by which the coded information of a
gene is converted into an operational, non-operational, or
structural part of a cell, such as the synthesis of a protein. Gene
expression can be influenced by external signals. For instance,
exposure of a cell to a hormone may stimulate expression of a
hormone-induced gene. Different types of cells can respond
differently to an identical signal. Expression of a gene also can
be regulated anywhere in the pathway from DNA to RNA to protein.
Regulation can include controls on transcription, translation, RNA
transport and processing, degradation of intermediary molecules
such as mRNA, or through activation, inactivation,
compartmentalization or degradation of specific protein molecules
after they are produced.
[0070] Feeder layer: Non-proliferating cells (such as irradiated
cells) that can be used to support proliferation of stem cells.
Protocols for the production of feeder layers are known in the art,
and are available on the internet, such as at the National Stem
Cell Resource website, which is maintained by the American Type
Culture Collection (ATCC).
[0071] Fetus: A developing mammal at an embryonic stage before
birth. In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at
the beginning of the 9th week after fertilization. In human eyes
and RPE are already formed at 4 weeks from conception. RPE
continues to mature for next several weeks.
[0072] Fibroblast growth factor (FGF): Any suitable fibroblast
growth factor, derived from any animal, and functional fragments
thereof, such as those that bind the receptor and induce biological
effects related to activation of the receptor. A variety of FGFs
are known and include, but are not limited to, FGF-1 (acidic
fibroblast growth factor), FGF-2 (basic fibroblast growth factor,
bFGF), FGF-3 (int-2), FGF-4 (hst/K-FGF), FGF-5, FGF-6, FGF-7,
FGF-8, FGF-9 and FGF-98. "FGF" refers to a fibroblast growth factor
protein such as FGF-1, FGF-2, FGF-4, FGF-6, FGF-8, FGF-9 or FGF-98,
or a biologically active fragment or mutant thereof. The FGF can be
from any animal species. In one embodiment, the FGF is mammalian
FGF, including but not limited to, rodent, avian, canine, bovine,
porcine, equine and human. The amino acid sequences and method for
making many of the FGFs are well known in the art.
[0073] The amino acid sequence of human bFGF and methods for its
recombinant expression are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,818,
herein incorporated by reference. The amino acid sequence of bovine
bFGF and various methods for its recombinant expression are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,214, also herein incorporated by
reference. When the 146 residue forms are compared, their amino
acid sequences are nearly identical, with only two residues that
differ. Recombinant bFGF-2, and other FGFs, can be purified to
pharmaceutical quality (98% or greater purity) using the techniques
described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,455.
[0074] An FGF inducer includes an active fragment of FGF. In its
simplest form, the active fragment is made by the removal of the
N-terminal methionine, using well-known techniques for N-terminal
methionine removal, such as a treatment with a methionine
aminopeptidase. A second desirable truncation includes an FGF
without its leader sequence. Those skilled in the art recognize the
leader sequence as the series of hydrophobic residues at the
N-terminus of a protein that facilitate its passage through a cell
membrane but that are not necessary for activity and that are not
found on the mature protein. Human and murine bFGF are commercially
available.
[0075] Frizzled (Fzd): A family of seven-pass transmembrane
mammalian proteins that have characteristics of G-protein-coupled
receptors and that bind proteins of the Wnt family of
lipoglycoproteins, secreted Frizzled-related proteins (sFRPs),
R-spondin, and Norrin and activates downstream signaling. Frizzled
proteins (also referred to as Frizzled receptors) contain a
cysteine-rich domain (CRD) that binds its cognate ligands, a
carboxy terminal PDZ (Psd-95/disc large/ZO-1 homologous)-binding
domain, and various consensus sites for serine/threonine kinases
and tyrosine kinases Amino acid hydropathy analysis indicates that
the Frizzled proteins contain one extracellular amino terminus,
three extracellular protein loops, three intracellular protein
loops, and an intracellular carboxy terminus
[0076] Frizzled proteins have an important regulatory role during
embryonic development and have also been associated, in humans and
in animal models, with a number of diseases, including various
cancers, cardiac hypertrophy, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy,
and schizophrenia.
[0077] There are at least 10 mammalian Frizzled proteins and the
genes encoding the mammalian Frizzled proteins are related to the
Drosophila frizzled genes. The human Frizzled proteins include
Frizzledl (Fzd1; GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AB017363), Frizzled2
(Fzd2; GENBANK.RTM. Accession Nos. L37882/NM.sub.--001466),
Frizzled3 (Fzd3; GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AJ272427), Frizzled4
(Fzd4; GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AB032417), Frizzled5 (FzdS;
GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. U43318), Frizzled6 (Fzd6; GENBANK.RTM.
Accession No. AB012911), Frizzled? (Fzd7; GENBANK.RTM. Accession
No. AB010881), Frizzled8 (Fzd8; GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
AB043703), Frizzled9 (Fzd9; GENBANK.RTM. Accession Nos.
U82169/NM.sub.--003508) and Frizzled10 (Fzd10; GENBANK.RTM.
Accession No. AB027464). All of the GENBANK.RTM. entries are
incorporated herein by reference as available on Jan. 1, 2013.
[0078] Growth factor: A substance that promotes cell growth,
survival, and/or differentiation. Growth factors include molecules
that function as growth stimulators (mitogens), factors that
stimulate cell migration, factors that function as chemotactic
agents or inhibit cell migration or invasion of tumor cells,
factors that modulate differentiated functions of cells, factors
involved in apoptosis, or factors that promote survival of cells
without influencing growth and differentiation. Examples of growth
factors are a fibroblast growth factor (such as FGF-2), epidermal
growth factor (EGF), cilliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), and nerve
growth factor (NGF), and actvin-A.
[0079] Growth medium or expansion medium: A synthetic set of
culture conditions with the nutrients necessary to support the
growth (cell proliferation/expansion) of a specific population of
cells. In one embodiment, the cells are stem cells, such as iPSCs.
Growth media generally include a carbon source, a nitrogen source
and a buffer to maintain pH. In one embodiment, growth medium
contains a minimal essential media, such as DMEM, supplemented with
various nutrients to enhance stem cell growth. Additionally, the
minimal essential media may be supplemented with additives such as
horse, calf or fetal bovine serum.
[0080] Host cells: Cells in which a vector can be propagated and
its DNA expressed. The cell may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic. The
term also includes any progeny of the subject host cell. It is
understood that all progeny may not be identical to the parental
cell since there may be mutations that occur during replication.
However, such progeny are included when the term "host cell" is
used.
[0081] Isolated: An "isolated" biological component, such as a
nucleic acid, protein or organelle that has been substantially
separated or purified away from other biological components in the
environment (such as a cell) in which the component naturally
occurs, i.e., chromosomal and extra-chromosomal DNA and RNA,
proteins and organelles. Nucleic acids and proteins that have been
"isolated" include nucleic acids and proteins purified by standard
purification methods. The term also embraces nucleic acids and
proteins prepared by recombinant expression in a host cell as well
as chemically synthesized nucleic acids and proteins. Similarly, an
"isolated" cell has been substantially separated, produced apart
from, or puified away from other cells of the organism in which the
cell naturally occurs. Isolated cells can be, for example, at least
99%, at leat 98%, at least 97%, at least 96%, 95%, at least 94%, at
least 93%, at least 92%, aor at least 90% pure.
[0082] Mammal: This term includes both human and non-human mammals.
Examples of mammals include, but are not limited to: humans and
veterinary and laboratory animals, such as pigs, cows, goats, cats,
dogs, rabbits and mice.
[0083] Marker or Label: An agent capable of detection, for example
by ELISA, spectrophotometry, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry,
immunofluorescence, microscopy, Northern analysis or Southern
analysis. For example, a marker can be attached to a nucleic acid
molecule or protein, thereby permitting detection of the nucleic
acid molecule or protein. Examples of markers include, but are not
limited to, radioactive isotopes, nitorimidazoles, enzyme
substrates, co-factors, ligands, chemiluminescent agents,
fluorophores, haptens, enzymes, and combinations thereof. Methods
for labeling and guidance in the choice of markers appropriate for
various purposes are discussed for example in Sambrook et al.
(Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y.,
1989) and Ausubel et al. (In Current Protocols in Molecular
Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1998).
[0084] In some embodiments, the marker is a fluorophore
("fluorescent label"). Fluorophores are chemical compounds, which
when excited by exposure to a particular wavelength of light, emits
light (i.e., fluoresces), for example at a different wavelength.
Fluorophores can be described in terms of their emission profile,
or "color." Green fluorophores, for example Cy3, FITC, and Oregon
Green, are characterized by their emission at wavelengths generally
in the range of 515-540 .lamda.. Red fluorophores, for example
Texas Red, Cy5 and tetramethylrhodamine, are characterized by their
emission at wavelengths generally in the range of 590-690.lamda..
In other embodiments, the marker is a protein tag recognized by an
antibody, for example a histidine (His)-tag, a hemagglutinin
(HA)-tag, or a c-Myc-tag.
[0085] Membrane potential: The electrical potential of the interior
of the cell with respect to the environment, such as an external
bath solution. One of skill in the art can readily assess the
membrane potential of a cell, such as by using conventional whole
cell techniques. The membrane potential can be assessed using many
approaches, such as using conventional whole cell access, or using,
for example, perforated-patch whole-cell and cell-attached
configurations.
[0086] MicroRNA (miRNA): A single-stranded RNA molecule, which
regulates gene expression. miRNAs are encoded by genes from whose
DNA they are transcribed but m1RNAs are not translated into
protein; instead each primary transcript (a pri-miRNA) is processed
into a short stem-loop structure called a pre-miRNA and finally
into a functional miRNA. Mature miRNA molecules are either fully or
partially complementary to one or more messenger RNA (mRNA)
molecules, and their main function is to down-regulate gene
expression. MicroRNAs can be encoded by independent genes, but also
be processed (via the enzyme Dicer) from a variety of different RNA
species, including introns, 3' UTRs of mRNAs, long noncoding RNAs,
snoRNAs and transposons. As used herein, microRNAs also include
"mimic" microRNAs which are intended to mean a microRNA exogenously
introduced into a cell that have the same or substantially the same
function as their endogenous counterpart.
[0087] Nodal: A secretory protein encoded by the NODAL gene that
belongs to the Transforming Growth Factor (TGF-beta) superfamily.
During embryonic development, the left-right (LR) asymmetry of
visceral organs in vertebrates is established through nodal
signaling. Nodal is expressed in the left side of the organism in
early development and it is highly conserved among deuterostomes.
Exemplary Nodal sequences can be found as GENBANK.RTM. Accession
Nos. NM.sub.--018055.4 and NP.sub.--060525.3, Jan. 6, 2013, which
are incorporated by reference herein.
[0088] Nucleic acid: A polymer composed of nucleotide units
(ribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleotides, related naturally occurring
structural variants, and synthetic non-naturally occurring analogs
thereof) linked via phosphodiester bonds, related naturally
occurring structural variants, and synthetic non-naturally
occurring analogs thereof. Thus, the term includes nucleotide
polymers in which the nucleotides and the linkages between them
include non-naturally occurring synthetic analogs, such as, for
example and without limitation, phosphorothioates,
phosphoramidates, methyl phosphonates, chiral-methyl phosphonates,
2-O-methyl ribonucleotides, peptide-nucleic acids (PNAs), and the
like. Such polynucleotides can be synthesized, for example, using
an automated DNA synthesizer. It will be understood that when a
nucleotide sequence is represented by a DNA sequence (i.e., A, T,
G, C), this also includes an RNA sequence (i.e., A, U, G, C) in
which "U" replaces "T."
[0089] "Nucleotide" includes, but is not limited to, a monomer that
includes a base linked to a sugar, such as a pyrimidine, purine or
synthetic analogs thereof, or a base linked to an amino acid, as in
a peptide nucleic acid (PNA). A nucleotide is one monomer in a
polynucleotide. A nucleotide sequence refers to the sequence of
bases in a polynucleotide.
[0090] Conventional notation is used herein to describe nucleotide
sequences: the left-hand end of a single-stranded nucleotide
sequence is the 5'-end; the left-hand direction of a
double-stranded nucleotide sequence is referred to as the
5'-direction. The direction of 5' to 3' addition of nucleotides to
nascent RNA transcripts is referred to as the transcription
direction. The DNA strand having the same sequence as an mRNA is
referred to as the "coding strand;" sequences on the DNA strand
having the same sequence as an mRNA transcribed from that DNA and
which are located 5' to the 5'-end of the RNA transcript are
referred to as "upstream sequences;" sequences on the DNA strand
having the same sequence as the RNA and which are 3' to the 3' end
of the coding RNA transcript are referred to as "downstream
sequences."
[0091] "cDNA" refers to a DNA that is complementary or identical to
an mRNA, in either single stranded or double stranded form.
[0092] "Encoding" refers to the inherent property of specific
sequences of nucleotides in a polynucleotide, such as a gene, a
cDNA, or an mRNA, to serve as templates for synthesis of other
polymers and macromolecules in biological processes having either a
defined sequence of nucleotides (for example, rRNA, tRNA and mRNA)
or a defined sequence of amino acids and the biological properties
resulting therefrom. Thus, a gene encodes a protein if
transcription and translation of mRNA produced by that gene
produces the protein in a cell or other biological system. Both the
coding strand, the nucleotide sequence of which is identical to the
mRNA sequence and is usually provided in sequence listings, and
non-coding strand, used as the template for transcription, of a
gene or cDNA can be referred to as encoding the protein or other
product of that gene or cDNA. Unless otherwise specified, a
"nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence" includes all
nucleotide sequences that are degenerate versions of each other and
that encode the same amino acid sequence. Nucleotide sequences that
encode proteins and RNA may include introns. In some examples, a
nucleic acid encodes a disclosed antigen.
[0093] Noggin: A protein which is encoded by the NOG gene. Noggin
inhibits TGF-.beta. signal transduction by binding to TGF-.beta.
family ligands and preventing them from binding to their
corresponding receptors. Noggin plays a key role in neural
induction by inhibiting BMP4, along with other TGF-.beta. signaling
inhibitors such as chordin and follistatin. Exemplary sequences for
Noggin are GENBANK.RTM. Accession Nos. NP.sub.--005441.1 and
NM.sub.--005450.4, Jan. 13, 2013, which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0094] Oct-4: A protein also known as POU5-F1 or MGC22487 or OCT3
or OCT4 or OTF3 or OTF4, that is the gene product of the Oct-4
gene. The term includes Oct-4 from any species or source and
includes analogs and fragments or portions of Oct-4 that retain the
ability to be used for the production of iPSCs. The Oct-4 protein
may have any of the known published sequences for Oct-4 which can
be obtained from public sources such as GENBANK.RTM.. An example of
such a sequence includes, but is not limited to, GENBANK.RTM.
Accession No. NM.sub.--002701.
[0095] Operably linked: A first nucleic acid sequence is operably
linked with a second nucleic acid sequence when the first nucleic
acid sequence is placed in a functional relationship with the
second nucleic acid sequence. For instance, a promoter is operably
linked to a coding sequence if the promoter affects the
transcription or expression of the coding sequence. Generally,
operably linked DNA sequences are contiguous and, where necessary
to join two protein-coding regions, in the same reading frame.
[0096] Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers: Conventional
pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are useful for practicing the
methods and forming the compositions disclosed herein. Remington's
Pharmaceutical Sciences, by E. W. Martin, Mack Publishing Co.,
Easton, Pa., 15th Edition, 1975, describes examples of compositions
and formulations suitable for pharmaceutical delivery of the
antimicrobial compounds herein disclosed.
[0097] In general, the nature of the carrier will depend on the
particular mode of administration being employed. For example,
parenteral formulations usually comprise injectable fluids that
include pharmaceutically and physiologically acceptable fluids such
as water, physiological saline, balanced salt solutions, aqueous
dextrose, glycerol or the like as a vehicle. For solid compositions
(e.g., powder, pill, tablet, or capsule forms), conventional
non-toxic solid carriers can include, for example, pharmaceutical
grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, or magnesium stearate. In
addition to biologically neutral carriers, pharmaceutical
compositions to be administered can contain minor amounts of
non-toxic auxiliary substances, such as wetting or emulsifying
agents, preservatives, and pH buffering agents and the like, for
example sodium acetate or sorbitan monolaurate.
[0098] Pluripotent stem cells: Stem cells that: (a) are capable of
inducing teratomas when transplanted in immunodeficient (SCID)
mice; (b) are capable of differentiating to cell types of all three
germ layers (e.g., can differentiate to ectodermal, mesodermal, and
endodermal cell types); and (c) express one or more markers of
embryonic stem cells (e.g., express Oct 4, alkaline phosphatase,
SSEA-3 surface antigen, SSEA-4 surface antigen, nanog, TRA-1-60,
TRA-1-81, SOX2, REX1, etc), but that cannot form an embryo and the
extraembryonic membranes (are not totipotent).
[0099] Exemplary pluripotent stem cells include embryonic stem
cells derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocyst stage
embryos, as well as embryonic stem cells derived from one or more
blastomeres of a cleavage stage or morula stage embryo (optionally
without destroying the remainder of the embryo). These embryonic
stem cells can be generated from embryonic material produced by
fertilization or by asexual means, including somatic cell nuclear
transfer (SCNT), parthenogenesis, and androgenesis. PSCs alone
cannot develop into a fetal or adult animal when transplanted in
utero because they lack the potential to contribute to all
extraembryonic tissue (e.g., placenta in vivo or trophoblast in
vitro).
[0100] Pluripotent stem cells also include "induced pluripotent
stem cells (iPSCs)" generated by reprogramming a somatic cell by
expressing or inducing expression of a combination of factors
(herein referred to as reprogramming factors). iPSCs can be
generated using fetal, postnatal, newborn, juvenile, or adult
somatic cells. In certain embodiments, factors that can be used to
reprogram somatic cells to pluripotent stem cells include, for
example, Oct4 (sometimes referred to as Oct 3/4), Sox2, c-Myc, and
Klf4, Nanog, and Lin28. In some embodiments, somatic cells are
reprogrammed by expressing at least two reprogramming factors, at
least three reprogramming factors, or four reprogramming factors to
reprogram a somatic cell to a pluripotent stem cell. iPSCs are
similar in properties to embryonic stem cells.
[0101] Polypeptide: A polymer in which the monomers are amino acid
residues that are joined together through amide bonds. When the
amino acids are alpha-amino acids, either the L-optical isomer or
the D-optical isomer can be used, the L-isomers being preferred in
nature. The term polypeptide is specifically intended to cover
naturally occurring proteins, as well as those that are
recombinantly or synthetically produced.
[0102] Substantially purified polypeptide as used herein refers to
a polypeptide that is substantially free of other proteins, lipids,
carbohydrates or other materials with which it is naturally
associated. In one embodiment, the polypeptide is at least 50%, for
example at least 80% free of other proteins, lipids, carbohydrates
or other materials with which it is naturally associated. In
another embodiment, the polypeptide is at least 90% free of other
proteins, lipids, carbohydrates or other materials with which it is
naturally associated. In yet another embodiment, the polypeptide is
at least 95% free of other proteins, lipids, carbohydrates or other
materials with which it is naturally associated.
[0103] Conservative amino acid substitution tables providing
functionally similar amino acids are well known to one of ordinary
skill in the art. The following six groups are examples of amino
acids that are considered to be conservative substitutions for one
another:
[0104] 1) Alanine (A), Serine (S), Threonine (T);
[0105] 2) Aspartic acid (D), Glutamic acid (E);
[0106] 3) Asparagine (N), Glutamine (Q);
[0107] 4) Arginine (R), Lysine (K);
[0108] 5) Isoleucine (I), Leucine (L), Methionine (M), Valine (V);
and
[0109] 6) Phenylalanine (F), Tyrosine (Y), Tryptophan (W).
[0110] A non-conservative amino acid substitution can result from
changes in: (a) the structure of the amino acid backbone in the
area of the substitution; (b) the charge or hydrophobicity of the
amino acid; or (c) the bulk of an amino acid side chain.
Substitutions generally expected to produce the greatest changes in
protein properties are those in which: (a) a hydrophilic residue is
substituted for (or by) a hydrophobic residue; (b) a proline is
substituted for (or by) any other residue; (c) a residue having a
bulky side chain, e.g., phenylalanine, is substituted for (or by)
one not having a side chain, e.g., glycine; or (d) a residue having
an electropositive side chain, e.g., lysyl, arginyl, or histadyl,
is substituted for (or by) an electronegative residue, e.g.,
glutamyl or aspartyl.
[0111] Variant amino acid sequences may, for example, be 80, 90 or
even 95 or 98% identical to the native amino acid sequence.
Programs and algorithms for determining percentage identity can be
found at the NCBI website.
[0112] Prenatal: Existing or occurring before birth. Similarly,
"postnatal" is existing or occurring after birth.
[0113] Primers: Short nucleic acid molecules, for instance DNA
oligonucleotides 10-100 nucleotides in length, such as about 15,
20, 25, 30 or 50 nucleotides or more in length. Primers can be
annealed to a complementary target DNA strand (such as a gene
listed in Table 1 or Table A, or miRNA listed in Table 2) by
nucleic acid hybridization to form a hybrid between the primer and
the target DNA strand. Primer pairs can be used for amplification
of a nucleic acid sequence, such as by PCR or other nucleic acid
amplification methods known in the art.
[0114] Methods for preparing and using nucleic acid primers are
described, for example, in Sambrook et al. (In Molecular Cloning: A
Laboratory Manual, CSHL, New York, 1989), Ausubel et al. (ed.) (In
Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New
York, 1998), and Innis et al. (PCR Protocols, A Guide to Methods
and Applications, Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif., 1990).
PCR primer pairs can be derived from a known sequence, for example,
by using computer programs intended for that purpose such as Primer
(Version 0.5, .COPYRGT. 1991, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical
Research, Cambridge, Mass.). One of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that the specificity of a particular primer increases
with its length. Thus, for example, a primer including 30
consecutive nucleotides of molecule will anneal to a target
sequence, such as another homolog of the designated molecule, with
a higher specificity than a corresponding primer of only 15
nucleotides. Thus, in order to obtain greater specificity, primers
can be selected that include at least 20, at least 25, at least 30,
at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50 or more
consecutive nucleotides of a nucleic acid sequence of interest.
[0115] Primer pairs: Two primers (one "forward" and one "reverse")
that can be used for amplification of a nucleic acid sequence, for
example by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or other in vitro
nucleic-acid amplification methods. The forward and reverse primers
of a primer pair do not hybridize to overlapping complementary
sequences on the target nucleic acid sequence.
[0116] Purified: The term "purified" does not require absolute
purity; rather, it is intended as a relative term. Thus, for
example, a purified protein preparation is one in which the protein
referred to is more pure than the protein in its natural
environment within a cell. For example, a preparation of a protein
is purified such that the protein represents at least 50% of the
total protein content of the preparation. Similarly, a purified
oligonucleotide preparation is one in which the oligonucleotide is
more pure than in an environment including a complex mixture of
oligonucleotides. A purified population of cells is greater than
about 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100%
pure, or free other cell types.
[0117] Recombinant: A recombinant nucleic acid or polypeptide
molecule is one that has a sequence that is not naturally occurring
or has a sequence that is made by an artificial combination of two
otherwise separated segments of sequence. This artificial
combination can be accomplished by chemical synthesis of
polypeptide or nucleic acid molecules, or by the artificial
manipulation of isolated segments of nucleic acid molecules, such
as by genetic engineering techniques.
[0118] Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell: RPE cells can be
recognized based on pigmentation, epithelial morphology, and
apical-basal polarized cells. RPE cells express, both at the mRNA
and protein level, one or more of the following: Pax6, MITF, RPE65,
CRALBP, PEDF, Bestrophin and/or Otx2. In certain other embodiments,
the RPE cells express, both at the mRNA and protein level, one or
more of Pax-6, MitF, and tyrosinase. RPE cells do not express (at
any detectable level) the embryonic stem cell markers Oct-4, nanog,
or Rex-1. Specifically, expression of these genes is approximately
100-1000 fold lower in RPE cells than in ES cells or iPSC cells,
when assessed by quantitative RT-PCR. Differentiated RPE cells also
can be visually recognized by their cobblestone morphology and the
initial appearance of pigment. In addition, differentiated RPE
cells have trans epithelial resistance/TER, and trans epithelial
potential/TEP across the monolayer (TER>100 ohms cm.sup.2;
TEP>2 mV), transport fluid and CO.sub.2 from apical to basal
side, and regulate a polarized secretion of cytokines.
[0119] The terms "RPE cell" and "differentiated RPE cell" and
"iPSC-derived RPE cell" and "human RPE cell" are used
interchangeably throughout to refer to an RPE cell differentiated
from a human iPSC using the methods disclosed herein. The term is
used generically to refer to differentiated RPE cells.
[0120] Retinal Pigment Epithelium: The pigmented layer of hexagonal
cells, present in vivo in mammals, just outside of the neurosensory
retinal that is attached to the underlying choroid. These cells are
densely packed with pigment granules, and shield the retinal from
incoming light. The retinal pigment epithelium also serves as the
limiting transport factor that maintains the retinal environment by
supplying small molecules such as amino acid, ascorbic acid and
D-glucose while remaining a tight bather to choroidal blood borne
substances.
[0121] Secreted Frizzled-related protein (sFRP): The sFRP family of
proteins are approximately 32-40 kDa glycoproteins that were
identified as antagonists of Wnt signaling (Rattner et al. (1997)
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:2859-63; Melkonyan et al. (1997)
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:13636-41; Finch et al. (1997) Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:6770-5; Uren et al. (2000) J. Biol. Chem.
275:4374-82; Kawano et al. (2003) J. Cell. Sci. 116:2627-34). In
mammals, there are five sFRPs. The human sFRPs include sFRP1
(GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AF001900.1), sFRP2 (GENBANK.RTM.
Accession No. NM.sub.--003013.2), sFRP3 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
U91903.1), sFRP4 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--003014.3),
and sFRP5 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--003015.3), as
available on Jan. 1, 2013.
[0122] The sFRPs contain three structural units: an amino terminal
signal peptide, a Frizzled type cysteine-rich domain (CRD), and a
carboxy-terminal netrin (NTR) domain. The CRD spans approximately
120 amino acids, contains 10 conserved cysteine residues, and has
30-50% sequence similarity to the CRD of Fzd receptors. The netrin
domain is defined by six cysteine residues and several conserved
segments of hydrophobic residues and secondary structures. The
biological activity of sFRPs is largely attributed to their role as
regulators of Wnt function.
[0123] Sequence identity: The similarity between two nucleic acid
sequences or between two amino acid sequences is expressed in terms
of the level of sequence identity shared between the sequences.
Sequence identity is typically expressed in terms of percentage
identity; the higher the percentage, the more similar the two
sequences.
[0124] Methods for aligning sequences for comparison are well known
in the art. Various programs and alignment algorithms are described
in: Smith and Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482, 1981; Needleman and
Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443, 1970; Pearson and Lipman, Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444, 1988; Higgins and Sharp, Gene 73:237-244,
1988; Higgins and Sharp, CABIOS 5:151-153, 1989; Corpet et al.,
Nucleic Acids Research 16:10881-10890, 1988; Huang, et al.,
Computer Applications in the Biosciences 8:155-165, 1992; Pearson
et al., Methods in Molecular Biology 24:307-331, 1994; Tatiana et
al., (1999), FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 174:247-250, 1999. Altschul et
al. present a detailed consideration of sequence-alignment methods
and homology calculations (J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410, 1990).
[0125] The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST.TM., Altschul et al. J.
Mol. Biol. 215:403-410, 1990) is available from several sources,
including the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI,
Bethesda, Md.) and on the Internet, for use in connection with the
sequence-analysis programs blastp, blastn, blastx, tblastn and
tblastx. A description of how to determine sequence identity using
this program is available on the internet under the help section
for BLAST.TM..
[0126] Sonic hedgehog (SHH): Sonic hedgehog (SHH) is one of three
mammalian homologs of the Drosophila hedgehog signaling molecule
and is expressed at high levels in the notochord and floor plate of
developing embryos. SHH is known to play a key role in neuronal
tube patterning (Echerlard et al., Cell 75:1417-30, 1993), the
development of limbs, somites, lungs and skin. Moreover,
overexpression of SHH has been found in basal cell carcinoma.
Exemplary amino acid sequences of SHH is set forth in U.S. Pat. No.
6,277,820. An exemplary sequence for human Sonic is set forth as
GENBANK Accession No. NG.sub.--007504.1 (Jan. 1, 2013), which is
incorporated by reference herein.
[0127] Subject: An animal or human subjected to a treatment,
observation or experiment.
[0128] Totipotent or totipotency: A cell's ability to divide and
ultimately produce an entire organism including all extraembryonic
tissues in vivo. In one aspect, the term "totipotent" refers to the
ability of the cell to progress through a series of divisions into
a blastocyst in vitro. The blastocyst comprises an inner cell mass
(ICM) and a trophectoderm. The cells found in the ICM give rise to
pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) that possess the ability to
proliferate indefinitely, or if properly induced, differentiate in
all cell types contributing to an organism. Trophectoderm cells
generate extra-embryonic tissues, including placenta and
amnion.
[0129] Treatment: Therapeutic measures that cure, slow down, lessen
symptoms of, and/or halt progression of a diagnosed pathologic
condition or disorder. In certain embodiments, treating a subject
with a retinal disorder results in a decline in the deterioration
of the retinal; an increase in the number of retinal pigment
epithelial cells, an improvement in vision, or some combination of
effects.
[0130] Tyrosinase: A copper-containing oxidase that catalyzes the
production of melanin and other pigments from tyrosine by
oxidation. This enzyme is the rate limiting enzyme for controlling
the production of melanin. Tyrosinase acts in the the hydroxylation
of a monophenol and, the conversion of an o-diphenol to the
corresponding o-quinone. o-Quinone undergoes several reactions to
eventually form melanin. In humans, the tyrosinase enzyme is
encoded by the TYR gene. Exemplary amino acid and nucleic acid
sequences are set forth in GENBANK.RTM. Accession Nos.
NM.sub.--000372.4 (human) and NM.sub.--011661.4 (mouse), Jan. 5,
2013, and which are incorporated by reference herein.
[0131] Undifferentiated: Cells that display characteristic markers
and morphological characteristics of undifferentiated cells,
distinguishing them from differentiated cells of embryo or adult
origin. Thus, in some embodiments, undifferentiated cells do not
express cell lineage specific markers, including, but no limited
to, RPE markers.
[0132] Vector: A nucleic acid molecule as introduced into a host
cell, thereby producing a transformed host cell. A vector may
include nucleic acid sequences that permit it to replicate in a
host cell, such as an origin of replication. A vector may also
include one or more selectable marker genes and other genetic
elements known in the art. A vector may also include a sequence
encoding for an amino acid motif that facilitates the isolation of
the desired protein product such as a sequence encoding maltose
binding protein, c-myc, or GST.
[0133] Wnt: A family of highly conserved secreted signaling
molecules that regulate cell-to-cell interactions and are related
to the Drosophila segment polarity gene, wingless. In humans, the
Wnt family of genes encodes 38 to 43 kDa cysteine rich
glycoproteins. The Wnt proteins have a hydrophobic signal sequence,
a conserved asparagine-linked oligosaccharide consensus sequence
(see e.g., Shimizu et al Cell Growth Differ 8:1349-1358 (1997)) and
22 conserved cysteine residues. Because of their ability to promote
stabilization of cytoplasmic beta-catenin, Wnt proteins can act as
transcriptional activators and inhibit apoptosis. Overexpression of
particular Wnt proteins has been shown to be associated with
certain cancers.
[0134] The Wnt family contains at least 19 mammalian members.
Exemplary Wnt proteins include Wnt-1, Wnt-2, Wnt2b, Wnt-3, Wnt-3a,
Wnt-4, Wnt-5a, Wnt5b, Wnt-6, Wnt-7a, Wnt-7b, Wnt-8a, Wnt-8b, Wnt9a,
Wnt9b, Wnt10a, Wnt-10b, Wnt-11, and Wnt 16. These secreted ligands
activate at least three different signaling pathways. In the
canonical (or Wnt/beta-catenin) Wnt signaling pathway, Wnt
activates a receptor complex consisting of a Frizzled (Fzd)
receptor family member and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
receptor-related protein 5 or 6 (LRP5/6). To form the receptor
complex that binds the Fzd ligands, Fzd receptors interact with
LRP5/6, single pass transmembrane proteins with four extracellular
EGF-like domains separated by six YWTD amino acid repeats (Johnson
et al., 2004, J. Bone Mineral Res. 19:1749). The canonical Wnt
signaling pathway activated upon receptor binding is mediated by
the cytoplasmic protein Dishevelled (Dvl) interacting directly with
the Fzd receptor and results in the cytoplasmic stabilization and
accumulation of beta-catenin. In the absence of a Wnt signal,
beta-catenin is localized to a cytoplasmic destruction complex that
includes the tumor suppressor proteins adenomatous polyposis coli
(APC) and Axin. These proteins function as critical scaffolds to
allow glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3beta to bind and
phosphorylate beta-catenin, marking it for degradation via the
ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. Activation of Dvl results in the
dissociation of the destruction complex. Accumulated cytoplasmic
beta-catenin is then transported into the nucleus where it
interacts with the DNA-binding proteins of the TCF/LEF family to
activate transcription.
[0135] The non-canonical WNT pathway is regulated by three of these
WNT ligands--WNT4, WNT5a, and WNT11. These ligands bind to the WNT
receptor Frizzled in the absence of the co-receptors (LRP5/6). This
leads to the activation of the RHO GTPase and ROCK kinase without
activating cytoplasmic beta-catenin ROCK regulates cytoskeleton to
regulate apical-basal polarity of the cell. Because of competition
for the same receptor, non-canonical WNT ligands also lead to
inhibition of canonical WNT signaling.
[0136] Unless otherwise explained, all technical and scientific
terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by
one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.
The singular terms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents
unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word
"or" is intended to include "and" unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. It is further to be understood that all base
sizes or amino acid sizes, and all molecular weight or molecular
mass values, given for nucleic acids or polypeptides are
approximate, and are provided for description. Although methods and
materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be
used in the practice or testing of this disclosure, suitable
methods and materials are described below. The term "comprises"
means "includes." All publications, patent applications, patents,
and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference
in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification,
including explanations of terms, will control. In addition, the
materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not
intended to be limiting.
Methods for Reprogramming Somatic Cells to Produce RPE Cells
[0137] Methods are provided herein wherein induced pluripotent stem
cells are reprogrammed to become retinal pigment epithelial cells.
Stem cells can be indefinitely maintained in vitro in an
undifferentiated state and yet are capable of differentiating into
virtually any cell type. Disclosed herein are methods to induce the
differentiation of human iPSC into a specialized cell in the
neuronal lineage, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).
[0138] RPE is a densely pigmented epithelial monolayer between the
choroid and neural retina that serves as a part of a barrier
between the bloodstream and retina. The functions of the RPE
include phagocytosis of shed rod and cone outer segments,
absorption of stray light, vitamin A metabolism, regeneration of
retinoids, and tissue repair. The RPE has a cobblestone cellular
morphology of black pigmented cells, and is known to express
markers such as cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP);
RPE65, Best vitelliform macular dystrophy gene (VMD2), and pigment
epithelium derived factor (PEDF). The RPE plays a role in
photoreceptor maintenance, and various RPE malfunctions in vivo are
associated with a number of vision-altering ailments, such as RPE
detachment, dysplasia, atrophy, retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa,
macular dystrophy or degeneration, including age-related macular
degeneration, which can result in photoreceptor damage and
blindness. Because of its wound healing abilities, the RPE has been
extensively studied for transplantation therapy; RPE
transplantation can be used for vision restoration. Furthermore,
RPE can be used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, as the
RPE secretes dopamine.
[0139] The starting somatic cell can be any cell of interest. Any
cells other than germ cells of mammalian origin (such as, humans,
mice, monkeys, pigs, rats etc.) can be used as starting material
for the production of iPSCs. Examples include keratinizing
epithelial cells, mucosal epithelial cells, exocrine gland
epithelial cells, endocrine cells, liver cells, epithelial cells,
endothelial cells, fibroblasts, muscle cells, cells of the blood
and the immune system, cells of the nervous system including nerve
cells and glia cells, pigment cells, and progenitor cells,
including hematopoietic stem cells, amongst others. There is no
limitation on the degree of cell differentiation, the age of an
animal from which cells are collected and the like; even
undifferentiated progenitor cells (including somatic stem cells)
and finally differentiated mature cells can be used alike as
sources of somatic cells in the present invention. In one
embodiment, the somatic cell is itself a RPE cell such as a human
RPE cell. The RPE cell can be an adult or a fetal RPE cell. Thus,
in some embodiments, the somatic cell is a fetal human RPE cell,
obtained from a human fetus of about week 9 to about week 38 of
gestation, such as about week 9 to about week 16 of gestation,
about week 17 to about week 25 of gestation, about 16 to about 19
weeks, or about week 26 to about week 38 of gestation. In this
context, "about" means within 2 days.
[0140] The choice of mammalian individuals as a source of somatic
cells is not particularly limited. Allogenic cells can be used.
Thus, in some embodiments, the iPSCs are not matched for MHC (e.g.,
HLA). In some embodiments, when the iPSCs obtained are to be used
for regenerative medicine in humans, cells can be collected from
the somatic cells from the subject to be treated, or another
subject with the same or substantially the same HLA type as that of
the patient. "Substantially the same HLA type" indicates that the
HLA type of donor matches with that of a patient to the extent that
the transplanted cells, which have been obtained by inducing
differentiation of iPSCs derived from the donor's somatic cells,
can be engrafted when they are transplanted to the patient. The
patient optionally can be treated with an immunosuppressant. In one
example, it includes an HLA type wherein major HLAs (e.g., the
three major loci of HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DR, the four major loci
further including HLA-Cw) are identical.
[0141] Somatic cells isolated from a mammal can be pre-cultured
using a medium known to be suitable for their cultivation according
to the choice of cells before being subjected to the step of
nuclear reprogramming Specific non-limiting examples of such media
include, but are not limited to, minimal essential medium (MEM)
containing about 5 to 20% fetal calf serum (FCS), Dulbecco's
modified Eagle medium (DMEM), RPMI1640 medium, 199 medium, F12
medium, and the like. One of skill in the art can readily ascertain
appropriate tissue culture conditions to propagate particular cell
types from a mammal, such as a human. In some embodiments, to
obtain completely xeno-free human iPSCs, the medium can exclude
ingredients derived from non-human animals, such as FCS. Media
comprising a basal medium supplemented with human-derived
ingredients suitable for cultivation of various somatic cells
(particularly, recombinant human proteins such as growth factors),
non-essential amino acids, vitamins and the like are commercially
available; those skilled in the art are able to choose an
appropriate xeno-free medium according to the source of somatic
cells. Somatic cells pre-cultured using a xeno-free medium are
dissociated from the culture vessel using an appropriate xeno-free
cell dissociation solution, and recovered, after which they are
brought into contact with nuclear reprogramming substances.
[0142] Generally, cells are cultured at about 35 to 38.degree. C.,
usually at 37.degree. C., in about 4-6% CO.sub.2, generally at 5%
CO.sub.2, unless specifically indicated otherwise below.
[0143] Somatic cells can be reprogrammed to produce induced
pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using methods known to one of skill
in the art. One of skill in the art can readily produce induced
pluripotent stem cells, see for example, Published U.S. Patent
Application No. 20090246875, Published U.S. Patent Application No.
2010/0210014; Published U.S. Patent Application No. 20120276636;
U.S. Pat. No. 8,058,065; U.S. Pat. No. 8,129,187; U.S. Pat. No.
8,278,620; PCT Publication NO. WO 2007/069666 A1, and U.S. Pat. No.
8,268,620, which are incorporated herein by reference. Generally,
nuclear reprogramming factors are used to produce pluripotent stem
cells from a somatic cell. In some embodiments, at least three, or
at least four, of Klf4, c-Myc, Oct3/4, Sox2, Nanog, and Lin28 are
utilized. In other embodiments, Oct3/4, Sox2, c-Myc and Klf4 is
utilized.
[0144] The cells are treated with a nuclear reprogramming
substance, which is generally one or more factor(s) capable of
inducing an iPSC from a somatic cell or a nucleic acid that encodes
these substances (including forms integrated in a vector). The
nuclear reprogramming substances generally include at least Oct3/4,
Klf4 and Sox2 or nucleic acids that encode these molecules. A
functional inhibitor of p53, L-myc or a nucleic acid that encodes
L-myc, and Lin28 or Lin28b or a nucleic acid that encodes Lin28 or
Lin28b, can be utilized as additional nuclear reprogramming
substances. Nanog can also be utilized for nuclear reprogramming.
As disclosed in published U.S. Patent Application No. 20120196360,
exemplary reprogramming factors for the production of iPSCs include
(1) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, L-Myc (Sox2 can be replaced with Sox1,
Sox3, Sox15, Sox17 or Sox18; Klf4 is replaceable with Klf1, Klf2 or
Klf5); (2) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, L-Myc, TERT, SV40 Large T antigen
(SV4OLT); (3) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, L-Myc, TERT, human papilloma
virus (HPV)16 E6; (4) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, L-Myc, TERT, HPV16 E7 (5)
Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, L-Myc, TERT, HPV16 E6, HPV16 E7; (6) Oct3/4,
Klf4, Sox2, L-Myc, TERT, Bmil; (7) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, L-Myc,
Lin28; (8) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, L-Myc, Lin28, SV4OLT; (9) Oct3/4,
Klf4, Sox2, L-Myc, Lin28, TERT, SV4OLT; (10) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2,
L-Myc, SV4OLT; (11) Oct3/4, Esrrb, Sox2, L-Myc (Esrrb is
replaceable with Esrrg); (12) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2; (13) Oct3/4,
Klf4, Sox2, TERT, SV4OLT; (14) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, TERT, HPV16 E6;
(15) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, TERT, HPV16 E7; (16) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2,
TERT, HPV16 E6, HPV16 E7; (17) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, TERT, Bmil; (18)
Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, Lin28 (19) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, Lin28, SV4OLT;
(20) Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, Lin28, TERT, SV4OLT; (21) Oct3/4, Klf4,
Sox2, SV4OLT; or (22) Oct3/4, Esrrb, Sox2 (Esrrb is replaceable
with Esrrg). In one non-limiting example, Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2, and
c-Myc are utilized. In other embodiments, Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2 are
utilized, see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,682,828, which is
incorporated herein by reference. These factors include, but are
not limited to, Oct3/4, Klf4 and Sox2. In other examples, the
factors include, but are not limited to Oct 3/4, Klf4 and Myc. In
some non-limiting examples, Oct3/4, Klf4, c-Myc, and Sox2 are
utilized. In other non-limiting examples, Oct3/4, Klf4, Sox2 and
Sal 4 are utilized.
[0145] Mouse and human cDNA sequences of these nuclear
reprogramming substances are available with reference to the NCBI
accession numbers mentioned in WO 2007/069666, which is
incorporated herein by reference. Methods for introducing one or
more reprogramming substances, or nucleic acids encoding these
reprogramming substances, are known in the art, and disclosed for
example, in published U.S. Patent Application No. 2012/0196360 and
U.S. Pat. No. 8,071,369, which both are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0146] After being cultured with nuclear reprogramming substances,
the cell can, for example, be cultured under conditions suitable
for culturing ES cells. In the case of mouse cells, the culture is
carried out with the addition of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF)
as a differentiation suppression factor to an ordinary medium. In
the case of human cells, it is desirable that basic fibroblast
growth factor (bFGF) be added in place of LIF.
[0147] In some embodiments, the cell is cultured in the co-presence
of mouse embryonic fibroblasts treated with radiation or an
antibiotic to terminate the cell division, as feeder cells. Mouse
embryonic fibroblasts in common use as feeders include the STO cell
line (ATCC CRL-1503) and the like; for induction of an iPSC, useful
cells can be generated by stably integrating the neomycin
resistance gene and the LIF gene in the STO cell (SNL76/7 STO cell;
ECACC 07032801) (McMahon, A. P. & Bradley, A. Cell 62,
1073-1085, 1990) and the like can be used. Mitomycin C-treated MEFs
are commercially available from Millipore. Gamma-irradiated MEFs
are commercially available from Global Stem Generally, somatic
cells are transduced with reprogramming factors in the absence of
MEFs. In some embodiments, about 7 to eight days after
transduction, the cells are re-seeded onto MEFs.
[0148] In some embodiments, the iPSC can be modified to express
exogenous nucleic acids, such as to include a tyrosinase enhancer
operaby linked to a promoter and a nucleic acid sequence encoding a
first marker. The tyrosinase gene is disclosed, for example, in
GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. 22173, as available on Jan. 1, 2013.
This sequence aligns to chromosome 7 of mouse strain C57BL/6
location 5286971-5291691 (invert orientation). A 4721 base pair
sequence is sufficient for expression in RPE cells, see Murisier et
al., Dev. Biol. 303: 838-847, 2007, which is incorporated herein by
reference. This construct is expressed in retinal pigment
epithelial cells. In some embodiments, the tyrosinase enhancer
sequence comprises or consists of the following nucleic acid
sequence:
TABLE-US-00001 (SEQ ID NO: 1)
TTCTTTTGCCCTTTCCTTTTCATAAACTGAACTTCATTTTAAGCAAC
AAGTCTGTGTGAAACAGAAATGTCCTAATCTCTCTTTGACCAAATGT
ACCCATATTCCCTTATGTTAACATGTATTTTTTACATTTAAGATTGT
TAAAGTGGAACAGTTTTTTTTCTGCCATTATAGCACCTGTCTCTACT
TTTCAAAGTATATGAATTATGATCTTTCTCATGTGGTTGTAAGCCCC
ATCTTTACAAGATTCACTTGATCTTTCATATTCAATTATTTATGGAA
CAAAATACCTGTCAATTCTTAGAGTCTTTTCTACATAATTTATTTGT
GAAAGAAAATGTTACTGGAAAGTGACAAATTAGAGTCAAAATATAAA
GACTGTGGCAGGTTATATACCTATAGTGTGATATGAAAGCTTTTGTA
AGAAGAGGTAGTGGTACTAAACTGGACAAAATCCAGATAAAAGAGGC
TTTGTGAAAATCAGGTAAAAATTTACTTAATATACAGCAAATACTAA
TAGTTGCTGTTTATAAAATACCATTTTCTGAACATTGTTTTTGCACA
TATAACTAAAATGTTGAATATACCCAAGTATGAAAATTTAGTGTCAT
AGATATTAAGAACATTCTACCCTTTTCAGGAGAGTCATTGACAGTGA
TTTAAGTGACTCTGCTTACACTGCTTGTCCTCTAACACTGACTCCAT
AATGATTGCAGCAAAAAATTAAAGCTCAAACGGTCTTGGGGATTACC
TAGTTCAATGACTTTGATTTAACACAGTAAGTACTTGAAGTAGAAAG
AGGTACATTAACAAGCCAGGCAATGATGATATGGAGGGCAGTGTGAT
TAGAGTACAGGATTCTACACTCATTCTGCATTATTGGTTCATATTTC
TTCTGGGGTAACTCACTTCCTTCCTTTTTCATATTTTCATTGCTCTA
ACTCTAGCCTTGACTTTAGGAACATCTCTTCTTTTTCCACCTATAAG
ATAGAATTGTTTTCTGCTGCAGGAGATTAAGATAGCTGGCATTCCTT
TATGCTTATTTAGTCATTTCAAGCGATTAACTTCATCCTATCAGACT
TTGAGATTAAGCTGCCAGTAGTGACCTCATTAAAGTCCACACTTCTA
ATAAGCTTCTCTAAAAATTGTTGAGAAGGCATTCTTGAGTTGGTACA
GGGAAAGAATTGTGGACTCAGAAGCAAACATAGCAAAGCTCATTTGT
TCCAGTCTATGGTTTACAGGTCAAGTGATTTGGGACCAATTGCCAAA
ATACATTGGTGAGGAAAGGCATTAATATCAACTATGCCAAGTTACTA
TGCTTATTAAACTCAACCATGATACAGAGTTATATAATGTTATAATG
TATTCATTGAATGTTTTATAAGAAACCAATTGTTTATTTGTTATTTA
ACTCTGCAAAACTACAGAAAGGGGAAATGGTTATTTAAGTGGGTAAT
AAGTTTTAAGTATTTATCGTTCATAATAATTAACAGAGATGTTACAA
AAATGTGACTGATTTTACTTGAAATGTTGCCATTTTAGTAAATGTGG
TGCCAAAGCAAGCATGAAATGTTGCCATTTTAAAGACATTTATTTTC
TAATGCTATAATATATTCATTACATATTATTAAAATAATTAATGTAA
AAATACCCAAAATGTGAAAATAACACGTAAGTCCTATTTTATGATTT
TCCATATCAAATTCAGAAACTAATACTCAGATCTTATTGTTTAAATA
GTATTTAAAATTAAAGACACATAGTCAGGAATATATGCTAAATAAAT
TTTCCAAATTGAATAACTAACTTTCAGGGTTGCCTTACTTTCAACAA
GAATATGCCTCTATTTGATTACTAATTGTAACTTTGTTCATAGACTA
CATAAGGTAATATTACAAACATATTCATTATTTTGACACATACTTAC
TTAAATAATAAATAAACATTAGAAAATATACTTACTATTTATATATA
AAGAATTTTTTTGTTTCGAAGGAACTTTAATAAATGAGATTATAAGG
TTGTTGTTCAGGTACATTGAACATTTTTTCAGGTTAATAAGGTGTCT
AAAAATAAGTTTAGAAAGATCTAAGGTATTCTTTTTTATTTGTTTTT
GTCCTTTTTTATTTTTCTTTTTTGAACTGGGTTTCTTCTTCAATTAG
CCCTGGCTGGATGTCCTGGAACTAGCTCTATATGCCATGCTGTCTTC
AAACTCATAGAGATCTGCCTACCTTTGCATCCCAAGTGCTGGGATTA
AAGGTATGAACCACCTCTTCCACCACTGCCAAGTAAGAATTCTTATT
TTACATAAGTCATTATGAAGGAAGTTATGTGTTTACTGTAAACAAGA
TTAATGACTTGGTTTGCTGATTTTCTCTGAAAACATGAAATCTCTTC
ATATAGATCTTGCTTCTGGATAATAAAAGGCCCATGGAGAAATGTTC
GTCTGTCTAGTTTCATATTCATATTAATGATCCTGAATCAATTTTCC
TCCATTGAGACTTGCATACTTAAGTATTAATGATTGCTGGAGTTCCA
TTCATAAGGATTCTTTATGTATTACATGTTAAAATTTTTAAACCTAC
GACATTTTGGGATATAGTTTAGTAAAACATCTTAAATGGTGTAAGTG
GTACCAATTAGTTTGAAGGCAAAAACAATTGTTTAAGTGGATTAAGG
TCTGTTCAATACTAGGGAACACCTGCTTGAAACACTTGACAATAGAA
ACTTAGCTAACTTACCCATGTCTGGAAAGGTCATGGACTCTGAAGGA
AAACTACTTTTACCATTTTCCTAAATCAATATAGCTTTTAACTATTC
TAAACACTGATCATTATACCCATAGACAGTTTAGATCAACCCTTTCC
AAAGAAGATTCTGTTTGTAGTAGATAAGGCTTAATACAAAGATCCTC
AATTGGTCCAAATCCAGAGAATAGGTAAGCCTGTGGTGTTTAGGTGC
CCAACTTAGTCTACCAATAATACTACCTATGTACTTGAGTACTAGTG
AACAGGATACAGAAGGTGGTATCAGGAAGACTGTAAGAACCAGAAAA
TATGAATACATACATGTGTATATTTATGCAAGAGTAACAATTAAAGA
AGTTTATTAATCTGAGTGTGTATGTGTTAATGTATAAAAATCTCAGA
AAAGTATTTAAAATTATTTTGCCTTTGGAAATAAAAATAACAAGTAT
TGTTCAAGAAAAAGATAATTCCAGGATACTAGCCAATTTTGCTCTTA
ACTTAGAAATATAATTATATTTTTTCTTCTCTTTGACTGGATAAATA
TGTACGAATGTTCTTTGAATATTTGCAGCCAATTTGACTCCCTAAAA
AATGGTATAGTTTTAAATGTGTTTAACATATTGCTTTTGTGAAAGAC
ATTTTTTTAGTATTAGATTCAATACTTTTTAACCATGTGGACATGGT
TGGTGTTATTTTTGTTCTAGAAAGGAACTGTTAAATTTCTGCTCCAA
CTTAGGTCATATAAGGGAAAATGAATCTGGTATTCTACAGAAAAATA
TAACTGTAACCATTTTGATGATTTTTGTGTTAATTAGCACTGTTTGT
CTGTTCATATCATTGAGGCACAGAAATGGTATATTTATATAACACCT
ACCAAACAGCCTCATAAAGAAATAGATAGATTCTGGGGAATAAATGA
TCTCCATTTGATCCTCAGTTTTATTAAAATCCTTCTGTTCCTGTGGC
ATGAATTCATCCAAACTGAGTAATGCTGGCAAGCAGGAAGGGGATCA
AGGTCATCCAAGGGATACTGACTTGGAAGGGTCTGGGCATGCAACCA
AGTACTTCCAGGGTGAATTATTATTAAGAAAAAGAATGTTGACAAAA
AAATATGTGAAAAGGACCTATAGCTAGCTATTCTCTTGGTGACCTGG
GTCTTGAGGAAGTTCTCTGGGAAGAGTCACTCAGCACATTTGGTCAA
ATGAATTCACCTATTCTGAAAACCAAATGAATATAGATTTCTGGACA
CCTCCCAAGGATTCATGTGTAAGATGAAATGCAGATTGTTCACCAAA
ATTGTCCCTGACTCCTATACTTAGACCATTTATTTTTCTGAAATCCC
ATAAACTGAGAAGATGCTGTCTGATTAGAAGATACACAAGTCGTGGA
TAATAAGACAAAAGAGCCCATGAACCTACAAAGCTCATTGCAAAGTG
AACTTCTGTCTTGTAACAGAGAAAGCAGACAAACCAACAAAATCATT
TATTTCAGTGAAAAGGAGGGGCCAGAAATGGAAAGATTACATTTCCT
AAGTCTCGTACTTGAAGACAGGTTGGGTCCTCAGAACTAATTAAGTA
GTAGAATGCACAATGTGCTTCAAGAAAAAAGAAGCTATGAAAAACAG
GTAGTCTATTTTATTTCAACCTAGCAACAGTGAGAAAAGGATGAGCT
AGCAAGGAGATGCAGATAGTGAAGTGTCCATTGTGGATTTACTCTGG
TTCTGACAGGTGGAATTGCTTCCATTCAAAACAAACAAAATAAACTT
CTAACTCACAGTAATTCACAGTGTCACACTTTGTAACACAGGATGTC
AAAGTTTCAGGACATACAGTCTCAACACATAGGTAATTAATTTAAGT
GAGGTGATTTGAGTGAATTTAAATGCAATGGACTTGTAGATTTTGTA
AAAAGAAGACACGTCTTTCAATACGCACACATATGGGAAAATGGTAT
GTAAATATGAAGTTAGCACTT
[0149] Longer fragments of the upstream region of the tyrosinase
gene, that include this enhancer, can also be utilized, such as 5
kb, 6Kb, 7kb, 8kb, etc.
[0150] Any promoter can be utilized, including, but not limited to
Hsp70 1a promoter (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NT.sub.--039649.8. In
some embodiment, the promoter includes, or consists of:
TABLE-US-00002 (SEQ ID NO: 2)
CAGGAACATCCAAACTGAGCAGCCGGGGTCCCCCCCACCCCCCACCC
CGCCCCTCCCGGCAACTTTGAGCCTGTGCTGGGACAGAGCCTCTAGT
TCCTAAATTAGTCCATGAGGTCAGAGGCAGCACTGCCATTGTAACGC
GATTGGAGAGGATCACGTCACCGGACACGCCCCCAGGCATCTCCCTG
GGTCTCCTAAACTTGGCGGGGAGAAGTTTTAGCCCTTAAGTTTTAGC
CTTTAACCCCCATATTCAGAACTGTGCGAGTTGGCGAAACCCCACAA
ATCACAACAAACTGTACACAACACCGAGCTAGAGGTGATCTTTCTTG
TCCATTCCACACAGGCCTTAGTAATGCGTCGCCATAGCAACAGTGTC
ACTAGTAGCACCAGCACTTCCCCACACCCTCCCCCTCAGGAATCCGT
ACTCTCCAGTGAACCCCAGAAACCTCTGGAGAGTTCTGGACAAGGGC
GGAACCCACAACTCCGATTACTCAAGGGAGGCGGGGAAGCTCCACCA
GACGCGAAACTGCTGGAAGATTCCTGGCCCCAAGGCCTCCTCCGGCT
CGCTGATTGGCCCAGCGGAGAGTGGGCGGGGCCGGTGAAGACTCCTT
AAAGGCGCAGGGCGGCGAGCAGGTCACCAGACGCTGACAGCTACTCA
GAACCAAATCTGGTTCCATCCAGAGACAAGCGAAAGACAAGAGAAGC
AGAGCGAGCGGCGCGTTCCCGATCCTCGGCCAGGACCAGCCTTCCCC
AGAGCATCCCTGCCGCGGAGCGCAACCTTCCCAGGAGCATCCCTGCC
GCGGAGCGCAACTTTCCCCGGAGCATCCACGGCCGCGGAGCGCAGCC
TTTCCAGAAGCAGAAGCGCGGCGCCAATGGCTCGCGAATGAATCCCG
TCGGTTTTAACAAACGGTCGGTGAACCTGGGGAAAAACCTGCGGTTA
ACCCAACTTAAATTCGCCCTCTGGGCAAGAC
[0151] Small deletions, additions, and substitutions can be made
without affecting the activity of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2,
such as at most 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 base.
[0152] Other enhancers can be utilized. Other RPE-specific
enhancers include D-MITF, DCT, TYRP1, RPE65, VMD2, MERTK, MYRIP,
RAB27A, Suitable promoters include, but are not limited to, any
promoter expressed in retinal pigment epithelial cells including
the tyrosinase promoter. The construct can also include other
elements, such as a ribosome binding site for translational
initiation (internal ribosomal binding sequences), and a
transcription/translation terminator.
[0153] Generally, it is advantageous to transfect cells with the
construct. Suitable vectors for stable transfection include, but
are not limited to retroviral vectors, lentiviral vectors and
Sendai virus.
[0154] Plasmids have been designed with a number of goals in mind,
such as achieving regulated high copy number and avoiding potential
causes of plasmid instability in bacteria, and providing means for
plasmid selection that are compatible with use in mammalian cells,
including human cells. Particular attention has been paid to the
dual requirements of plasmids for use in human cells. First, they
are suitable for maintenance and fermentation in E. coli, so that
large amounts of DNA can be produced and purified. Second, they are
safe and suitable for use in human patients and animals. The first
requirement calls for high copy number plasmids that can be
selected for and stably maintained relatively easily during
bacterial fermentation. The second requirement calls for attention
to elements such as selectable markers and other coding sequences.
In some embodiments plasmids that encode a marker are composed of:
(1) a high copy number replication origin, (2) a selectable marker,
such as, but not limited to, the neo gene for antibiotic selection
with kanamycin, (3) transcription termination sequences, including
the tyrosinase enhancer and (4) a multicloning site for
incorporation of various nucleic acid cassettes; and (5) a nucleic
acid sequence encoding a marker operably linked to the tyrosinase
promoter. There are numerous plasmid vectors that are known in the
art for inducing a nucleic acid encoding a protein. These include,
but are not limited to, the vectors disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,103,470; U.S. Pat. No. 7,598,364; U.S. Pat. No. 7,989,425; and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,998, which are incorporated herein by
reference. Viral vectors can be utilized for the introduction of
nucleic acids, including polyoma, SV40 (Madzak et al., 1992, J.
Gen. Virol., 73:15331536), adenovirus (Berkner, 1992, Cur. Top.
Microbiol. Immunol., 158:39-6; Berliner et al., 1988, Bio
Techniques, 6:616-629; Gorziglia et al., 1992, J. Virol.,
66:4407-4412; Quantin et al., 1992, Proc. Nad. Acad. Sci. USA,
89:2581-2584; Rosenfeld et al., 1992, Cell, 68:143-155; Wilkinson
et al., 1992, Nucl. Acids Res., 20:2233-2239; Stratford-Perricaudet
et al., 1990, Hum. Gene Ther., 1:241-256), vaccinia virus (Mackett
et al., 1992, Biotechnology, 24:495-499), adeno-associated virus
(Muzyczka, 1992, Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol., 158:91-123; On et
al., 1990, Gene, 89:279-282), herpes viruses including HSV and EBV
(Margolskee, 1992, Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol., 158:67-90;
Johnson et al., 1992, J. Virol., 66:29522965; Fink et al., 1992,
Hum. Gene Ther. 3:11-19; Breakfield et al., 1987, Mol. Neurobiol.,
1:337-371; Fresse et al., 1990, Biochem. Pharmacol., 40:2189-2199),
Sindbis viruses (H. Herweijer et al., 1995, Human Gene Therapy
6:1161-1167; U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,309 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,2217,879),
alphaviruses (S. Schlesinger, 1993, Trends Biotechnol. 11:18-22; I.
Frolov et al., 1996, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:11371-11377),
human herpesvirus vectors (HHV) such as HHV-6 and HHV-7, and
retroviruses of avian (Brandyopadhyay et al., 1984, Mol. Cell
Biol., 4:749-754; Petropouplos et al., 1992, J. Virol.,
66:3391-3397), murine (Miller, 1992, Curr. Top. Microbiol.
Immunol., 158:1-24; Miller et al., 1985, Mol. Cell Biol.,
5:431-437; Sorge et al., 1984, Mol. Cell Biol., 4:1730-1737; Mann
et al., 1985, J. Virol., 54:401-407), and human origin (Page et
al., 1990, J. Virol., 64:5370-5276; Buchschalcher et al., 1992, J.
Virol., 66:2731-2739). Baculovirus (Autographa californica
multinuclear polyhedrosis virus; AcMNPV) vectors can be used.
Vectors can be obtained from commercial sources (such as
PharMingen, San Diego, Calif.; Protein Sciences Corp., Meriden,
Conn.; Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.). Suitable vectors are
disclosed, for example, in U.S. Published Patent Application No.
2010/0247486, which is incorporated herein by reference. In
specific non-limiting examples, the vectors are retrovirus vectors
(for example, lentivirus vectors), measles virus vectors,
alphavirus vectors, baculovirus vectors, Sindbis virus vectors,
adenovirus and poliovirus vectors.
[0155] Methods of transfection of DNA as calcium phosphate
coprecipitates, conventional mechanical procedures such as
microinjection, electroporation, insertion of a plasmid encased in
liposomes, or virus vectors may be used. Eukaryotic cells can also
be cotransformed with polynucleotide sequences encoding the
antibody, labeled antibody, or functional fragment thereof, and a
second foreign DNA molecule encoding a selectable phenotype, such
as the herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene.
[0156] A viral gene delivery system can be an RNA-based or
DNA-based viral vector. An episomal gene delivery system can be a
plasmid, an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-based episomal vector, a
yeast-based vector, an adenovirus-based vector, a simian virus 40
(SV40)-based episomal vector, a bovine papilloma virus (BPV)-based
vector, or a lentiviral vector.
[0157] Markers include, but are not limited to, fluorescence
proteins (for example, green fluorescent protein or red fluorescent
protein), enzymes (for example, horse radish peroxidase or alkaline
phosphatase or firefly/renilla luciferase or nanoluc), or other
proteins. A marker may be a protein (including secreted, cell
surface, or internal proteins; either synthesized or taken up by
the cell); a nucleic acid (such as an mRNA, or enzymatically active
nucleic acid molecule) or a polysaccharide. Included are
determinants of any such cell components that are detectable by
antibody, lectin, probe or nucleic acid amplification reaction that
are specific for the marker of the cell type of interest. The
markers can also be identified by a biochemical or enzyme assay or
biological response that depends on the function of the gene
product. Nucleic acid sequences encoding these markers can be
operably linked to the tyrosinase enhancer. In addition, other
genes can be included, such as genes that may influence stem cell
to RPE differentiation, or RPE function, or physiology, or
pathology. Thus, in some embodiments, a nucleic acid is included
that encodes one or more of MITF, PAX6, TFEC, OTX2, LHX2, VMD2,
CFTR, RPE65, MFRP, CTRP5, CFH, C3, C2B, APOE, APOB, mTOR, FOXO,
AMPK, SIRT1-6, HTRP1, ABCA4, TIMP3, VEGFA, CFI, TLR3, TLR4, APP,
CD46, BACE1, ELOLV4, ADAM10, CD55, CD59, and ARMS2.
[0158] The iPSCs, optionally including the tyrosinase promoter
operably linked to a marker, are cultured under conditions such
that embryoid bodies (EBs) are formed. Methods for the production
of EBs are known in the art. In some embodiments, EBs are produced
in suspension culture: undifferentiated iPSCs are harvested by
brief collagenase digestion, dissociated into clusters, and
cultured in non-adherent cell culture platesEBs are cultured for
about 36 to about 72 hours, such as for about 48 hours and then
plated. In some examples, the medium is not changed during this
period.
[0159] Without being bound by theory, EBs are formed by the
homophilic binding of the Ca2+ dependent adhesion molecule
E-cadherin, which is highly expressed on undifferentiated stem
cells. When cultured as single cells under specific conditions,
iPSCs spontaneously aggregate to form EBs. Such spontaneous
formation is often accomplished in bulk suspension cultures whereby
the dish is coated with non-adhesive materials, such as agar or
hydrophilic polymers, to promote the preferential adhesion between
single cells, rather than to the culture substrate. To avoid
dissociation into single cells, EBs can be formed from iPSCs by
manual separation of adherent colonies (or regions of colonies) and
subsequently cultured in suspension. Formation of EBs in suspension
is amenable to the formation of large quantities of EBs, but
provides little control over the size of the resulting aggregates,
often leading to large, irregularly shaped EBs. As an alternative,
the hydrodynamic forces imparted in mixed culture platforms
increase the homogeneity of EB sizes when iPSCs are inoculated
within bulk suspensions.
[0160] In some embodiments, EBs are selected that include about 150
to about 600 cells, such as about 200 to about 500 cells, such as
about 200 to about 500 cells. In additional embodiments, the EBs
include less than about 500 cells, such as less than about 450
cells or less than about 400 cells. In further embodiments, the EBs
include less than 500 cells, such as less than 450 cells or less
than 400 cells. In other embodiments, about 200 to about 400 EBs
are plated in each well of a standard 6-well tissue culture plate,
such as about 100 to about 200 EBs, for example about 100 to about
150 EBs. In this context, "about" means within 20 cells or embryoid
bodies.
[0161] The EBs are then cultured a first medium comprising two Wnt
pathway inhibitors and a Nodal pathway inhibitor. The first medium,
that includes the Wnt pathway inhibitors and the Nodal pathway
inhibitor, can be a retinal cell inducing medium. An exemplary
non-limiting medium is Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM)
and F12 at a ratio of about 1:1 in the absence of serum. Other
tissue culture media can also be used, such as Knock out DMEM. In
some embodiments, the cells are cultured for about 36 to about 50
hours, such as for about 48 hours. Additional exemplary media are
disclosed in the examples section.
[0162] The Wnt pathway inhibitors can be, for example,
N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-chloroisoquinoline-8-sulfonamide (CK1-7),
3,5,7,8-Tetrahydro-2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4H-thiopyrano[4,3-d]pyri-
midin-4-one (XAV939), Secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) 1,
sFRP1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. AF001900.1), sFRP2 (GENBANK.RTM.
Accession No. NM.sub.--003013.2), sFRP3 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
U91903.1), sFRP4 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--003014.3),
and sFRP5 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--003015.3), SFRP-3,
SFRP-4 or SFRP-5. These GENBANK.RTM. sequences are incorporated
herein by reference as available on Jan. 1, 2013. The SFRP can be
included at a concentration of about 5ng/ml to 100 ng/ml, such as a
out 10 ng/ml to about 90 mg/ml, such as about 20 ng/ml to about 80
ng/ml. In some embodiments, the first medium includes about 3 to
about 10 mM of CK1-7 dicloride
(N-(2-Aminoethyl)-5-chloroisoquinoline-8-sulphonamide
dihydrochloride), for example about 3.5 to about 9 mM of CK1-7, or
about 4 to about 8 mM of CK1-7.
[0163] The Nodal pathway inhibitor can be, for example,
4-(5-Benzol[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-4-pyrldin-2-yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-benzamide
hydrate,
4-[4-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)-5-(2-pyridinyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-be-
nzamide hydrate,
4-[4-(3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl)-5-(2-pyridyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-benzamide
hydrate (SB-431542), left-right determination factor (Lefty) or
2-(5-Benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl-2-tert-butyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-6-methylpyridin-
e hydrochloride hydrate (SB-505124). In some embodiments, the first
medium includes about 3 to about 10 mM of SB43152, for example
about 3.5 to about 9 mM of SB43152, or about 4 to about 8 mM of
SB43152.
[0164] The cells are cultured in the first medium for about 36 to
72 hours, such as for about 48 hours. Following culture in the
first media, such as for about 36 to about 72 hours, such as for
about 48 hours, the EBs are plated on a tissue culture substrate in
a second medium. In some embodiments, the tissue culture substrate
is coated with MATRIGEL.RTM.. The second medium does not include
exogenous beta fibroblast growth fact (bFGF). The second media also
includes a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) inhibitor, two Wnt
pathway inhibitors, and a Nodal pathway inhibitor. Exemplary media
are disclosed in the examples section.
[0165] Suitable Wnt pathway inhibitors and Nodal inhibitors are
disclosed above. Suitable bFGF inhibitors include, but are not
limited to,
N-[(2R)-2,3-Dihydroxypropoxy]-3,4-difluoro-2-[(2-fluoro-4-iodophenyl)amin-
o]-benzamide (PD0325901),
N-[2-[[4-(Diethylamino)butyl]amino-6-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)pyrido[2,3-d]py-
rimidin-7-yl]-N'-(1,1-dimethylethyl)urea (PD173074),
2-(2-Amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (PD 98059),
1-tert-Butyl-3-[6-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-2-[[4-(diethylamino)butyl]amino]py-
rido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-yl]urea (PD161570), or
6-(2,6-Dichlorophenyl)-2-[[4-[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]phenyl]amino[8-methy-
l-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-one dihydrochloride hydrate
(PD166285). In some embodiments, the second medium comprises about
0.2 to about 2.5 mM of a PD0325901, such as about 0.5 to about 2 mM
of PD0325901, such as about 1 to about 2 mM of PD0325901. In one
specific non-limiting example, the second medium includes about 3.5
to about 9 mM of CK1-7 and about 3.5 to about 9 mM of SB431542,
such as about 5 mM of SB431542.
[0166] The second medium can include about 20 to about 90 ng of
Noggin, such as about 30 to about 90 ng of Noggin, such as about 40
to about 80 ng of Noggin, such as about 50 ng/ml of Noggin.
[0167] The second medium can also include about 0.5% to about 3.5%
such as about 1 to about 3%, such as about 2 to about 3%,
KNOCKOUT.TM. serum replacement to form. KNOCKOUT.TM. serum
replacement is disclosed, for example, in published U.S. Patent
Application No. 2002/076747 and PCT Publication No. 98/830679,
which are both incorporated herein by reference, and is available
commercially from LIFE TECHNOLOGIES.TM. to produced differentiating
retinal pigment epithelial cells.
[0168] Inhibitors of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, also
known as FGF-2) include, but are not limited to,
N-[(2R)-2,3-Dihydroxypropoxyl-3,4-difluoro-2-[(2-fluoro-4-iodophenyl)amin-
ol-benzamide (PD0325901),
N-[2-[[4-(Diethylamino)butyllamino-6-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)pyrido[2,3-d]py-
rimidin-7-yl]-N'-(1,1-dimethylethyl)urea (PD173074),
2-(2-Amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (PD 98059),
1-tert-Butyl-3-[6-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-2-[[4-(diethylamino)butyl]aminolpy-
rido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-yl]urea (PD161570), or
6-(2,6-Dichlorophenyl)-2-[[4-[2-(diethylamino)ethoxylphenyllaminol-8-meth-
yl-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-one dihydrochloride hydrate
(PD166285). In some embodiments, the second medium includes about
0.5 to about 2 mM of PD0325901, such as about 1 to about 2 mM of
PD0325901, such as about 1.5 to about 2 mM of PD0325901, such as
about 1 mM of PD0325901.
[0169] In some embodiments, the cells are cultured in the second
medium for about 18 to about 24 days, such as for about 20 to about
22 days, such as for about 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24 days. In
other embodiments, the cells are cultured in the second medium for
a period of about 14 days to about four weeks, such about 14 days
to about three weeks, such for about two weeks, for about 14, about
15, about 16, about 17, about 18, about 19, about 20, or about 21
days. Specific non-limiting examples are for 14 days to three
weeks, one week to two weeks, one week to 10 days, one week to
three weeks, or one week, two weeks or three weeks. In this
context, "about" indicates within one day of the listed time.
[0170] Specific non-limiting examples of exemplary concentrations
of PD325901, Noggin and/or DKK1 are shown in FIGS. 8-10. In some
embodiments, the methods provide an increase in Pax6 expression in
cells that are culture in the second medium for about one to about
two weeks, as compared to the initial population of cells. In
certain embodiments, the cells are culture in the absence of, and
in the presence of a bFGF inhibitor, and in the presence of Noggin.
Non-limiting examples include about 10 mM PD0325901 and about 50 to
about 100 ng/ml of Noggin. Additional examples are presented in
FIG. 8. Optionally, the medium can include DKK1 at about 50 to 100
ng/ml, such as about 75m 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100 ng/ml of DKK1. In
some embodiments, Pax6 expression is increased at least 150, 160,
170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240 times following culture for
one week, as compared to the starting cells. In other embodiments,
Pax6 expression is increased at least 400, 450, 500, or 600 times
following culture for one to two weeks, as compared to expression
in the starting cells. In yet other embodiments, Pax6 expression is
increased at least 500, 600, 700, 800, or 900 times following
culture for one to three weeks, as compared to expression in the
cells prior to culture in the starting cells, such as embryoid
bodies at day zero of culture.
[0171] In yet other embodiments, Microphthalmia associated
transcription factor (MITF, GENBANK Accession No.
NG.sub.--011631.1, as available Jan. 1, 2013, incorporated herein
by reference) expression is increased at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or
10 times following culture for one week, as compared to expression
in the cells prior to culture in the second medium. In other
embodiments, MITF expression is increased at least 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, or 10 times following culture for one to two weeks, as
compared to expression in the cells prior to culture in the second
medium. In yet other embodiments, MITF expression is increased at
least 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 45, or 50 times following culture
for one to three weeks, as compared to expression in the starting
cells, such as embryoid bodies at day 0 of culture.
[0172] In some embodiments, expression from a tyrosinase enhancer
promoter is increased. Thus, in some embodiments, expression of a
nucleic acid encoding a marker operably linked to the tyrosinanse
enhancer is increased. For example, the expression of a marker can
be increased by at least 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or
100%.
[0173] The resultant differentiating RPE cells are then transferred
to a third medium. In some embodiments, the third medium includes
about 50 to about 300 ng/ml of ACTIVIN A, such as about 100 to
about 200 ng/ml of ACTIVIN A, such as about 150 to about 200 ng/ml
of ACTIVIN A, such as about 150 ng/ml of Activin A. In additional
embodiments, the third medium comprises about 75 to 150 ng/ml of
Wnt3a, such as about 100 to 150 ng/ml of Wnt 3a, such as about 110
to 140 ng/ml of Wnt 3a, such as about 100 ng/ml. In this context,
about means within 2 ng/ml.
[0174] In some embodiments, the cells are cultured in the third
medium for about 18 to about 24 days, such as for about 20 to about
22 days, such as for about 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24 days. In
some embodiments, the cells are cultured in the third medium for a
period of about 14 days to about four weeks, such about 14 days to
about three weeks, such for about two weeks, for about 14, about
15, about 16, about 17, about 18, about 19, about 20, or about 21
days. Specific non-limiting examples are for 14 days to three
weeks, one week to two weeks, one week to 10 days, one week to
three weeks, or one week, two weeks or three weeks. In this
context, "about" indicates within one day of the listed time.
[0175] After culture in the third medium the cells are cultured in
a fourth medium that includes about 3 to about 6 percent serum,
such as about 5 percent serum. In some embodiments, the serum is
fetal calf serum. In other embodiments, the serum is human serum.
The RPE medium includes a canonical WNT inhibitor, a non-canonical
WNT inducer, and inhibitors of the Sonic and FGF pathway to produce
differentiated RPE cells.
[0176] This medium also includes a canonical WNT inhibitor, a
non-canonical WNT inducer, and inhibitors of the Sonic and FGF
pathways. In additional embodiments, the canonical WNT inhibitor is
Dickkopf-related protein. This, in some examples, the medium
includes about 50 to about 200 ng/ml of Dickkopf-related protein 1
(DKK1), such as about 50 to about 100 ng/ml of DKK1, such as about
40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 or 100 ng/ml of DKK1. In
some embodiments, the non-canonical WNT induce is Want 5a. In one
example, the fourth medium comprises about 50 to about 200 ng/ml of
the non-cannonical WNT inducer, such as WNT5a, such as about 50 to
about 100 ng/ml, such as about 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80,
85, 90 or 100 ng/ml. In another example, the fourth medium
comprises about 5 to about 20 .mu.M Cycolopamine, such as about
5-10 .mu.M Cyclopamine, such as about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 .mu.M
Cyclopamine. In yet aother embodiments, the fourth medicum
comprises about 5 to about 20 .mu.M SU5402, such as about 5-10
.mu.M SU5402, such as about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 .mu.M SU5402.
[0177] The cells can be culture in the fourth medium for about 10
to about 20 days, such as for about 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18 or 19 days, such as for about two weeks, or for about 12 to
about 16 days.
[0178] In some embodiments, the cells are also cultured in the
fourth medium comprising 3 to about 6% serum, such as about 3% to
about 6% human serum or fetal calf serum, such as about 3%, 4%, 5%
or 6% fetal calf serum.
[0179] Retinal pigment epithelial cells produced by the methods
disclosed herein are cultured in the fourth medium containing
aphidicolin for 6-8 weeks. In some embodiments, the retinal pigment
epithelia cells are cultured, for example, in a tissue culture
medium including aphidicolin at a concentration of about 3 .mu.M to
about 10 .mu.M. In additional embodiments, the retinal pigment
epithelial cells are cultured in a tissue culture medium including
about 3 .mu.M, about 4 .mu.M, about 5 .mu.M, about 6 .mu.M, about 7
.mu.M, about 8 .mu.M, about 9 .mu.M or about 10 .mu.M aphidicolin.
The retinal pigment epithelial cells can be cultured for about 4 to
about 6 weeks in the tissue culture medium including aphidicolin,
such as for about 4 weeks, about 5 weeks, or about 6 weeks. In some
embodiments, the use of aphidicolin is sufficient to increase
polarization of the retinal pigment epithelial cells.
[0180] The methods disclosed herein efficiently produce RPE cells.
Thus, using the methods disclosed herein, at least about 85%, 90%,
91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of the resultant
cells are RPE cells. In some embodiments, a construct including the
tyrosinase enhancer operably linked to a marker, such as a
fluorescent protein, is included in the iPSCs. Using the methods
disclosed herein, at least about 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%,
96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of the cells express this marker.
[0181] Following culture in the fourth medium the RPE cells can be
maintained in culture. In some embodiments, the RPE cells are
maintained in RPE medium (see above) including comprising about 3
to about 6% serum, such as about 3%, about 4%, about 5% or about 6%
serum. The serum can be fetal serum. In some non-limiting examples,
the serum is fetal calf serum. In other embodiment, the serum is
human serum. The RPE cells can be maintained in RPE medium,
comprising about 3% to about 6% serum, such as about 5% serum, for
example about 5% fetal serum, for about six to about eight weeks.
In some embodiments, the RPE cells are grown in transwells, such as
in a 6-well, 12-well, 24-well, or 10 cm plate. The retinal pigment
epithelial cells can be maintained in retinal pigment epithelial
cell (RPE) medium comprising about 5% fetal serum for about four to
about ten weeks, such as for about six to about eight weeks, such
as for six, seven or eight weeks.
[0182] The method can also include confirming that the resultant
cells are RPE cells. Method for this confirmation are disclosed
below.
Pharmaceutical Compositions and Use of RPE Cells
[0183] Disclosed herein are compositions, such as pharmaceutical
compositions, including human RPE cells. In certain embodiments,
the preparation is a preparation of iPSC-derived RPE cells, such
as, but not limited to RPE cells derived from an iPSC produced from
a fetal RPE cell, such as a human fetal RPE cell. In certain
embodiments, these compositions are substantially purified (with
respect to non-RPE cells) preparations comprising differentiated
RPE cells produced by the methods disclosed herein. These
substantially purified populations are compositions that include at
least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or even
greater than 99% RPE cells. Thus, the compositions contains less
than 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or less than 1% of cells
that are not RPE cells. In certain embodiments, the compositions
include at least about 1.times.10.sup.3 RPE cells, about
1.times.10.sup.4 RPE cells, about 1.times.10.sup.5 RPE cells, about
1.times.10.sup.6 RPE cells, about 1.times.10.sup.7 RPE cells, about
1.times.10.sup.8 RPE cells, or about 1.times.10.sup.9 RPE
cells.
[0184] In certain embodiments, the cells express one or more of the
genes listed in Table 1 below.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 1 Gene Symbol Refseq # SLC9A3R1 NM_004252
SLC6A6 NM_003043 SLC12A2 NM_001046 SNAI3 NM_178310 SNAI2 NM_003068
SNAI1 NM_005985 CDKN1B NM_004064 PTK2 NM_005607 UTP3 NM_020368 USO1
NM_003715 BHLHE41 NM_030762 HSPA13 NM_006948 AKIRIN1 NM_024595
NCRNA00153 NM_018474 FAM13A NM_014883 FRMD7 NM_194277 HLA-DRB4
NM_021983 LYZ NM_000239 RGS1 NM_002922 IMPG1 NM_001563 PDE6H
NM_006205 UNC119 NM_005148 LEPR NM_002303 LGI1 NM_005097 HMGCS2
NM_005518 RBP4 NM_006744 OGN NM_014057 RARRES1 NM_002888 RHO
NM_000539 CHN1 NM_001822 CFH NM_000186 CHI3L1 NM_001276 MAK
NM_005906 DDC NM_000790 S100A8 NM_002964 BMP5 NM_021073 ITGBL1
NM_004791 PLA2G2A NM_000300 RNASE6 NM_005615 HLA-DRA NM_019111
MS4A4A NM_024021 KLF9 NM_001206 PPEF2 NM_006239 LMOD1 NM_012134
HLA-DQB1 NM_002123 IL1R2 NM_004633 ASPH NM_004318 MYO6 NM_004999
TOB2 NM_016272 GPX3 NM_002084 IL33 NM_033439 GAP43 NM_002045 ACSL3
NM_004457 FHIT NM_002012 FBLN1 NM_001996 IL6ST NM_002184 CPEB3
NM_014912 SPP1 NM_000582 MNDA NM_002432 PSD3 NM_015310 SLC16A3
NM_004207 LRAT NM_004744 TMEM176B NM_014020 IGHA1 XM_370781 HEG1
NM_020733 KCNV2 NM_133497 SERPINA3 NM_001085 PDE6G NM_002602 PDE6D
NM_002601 CD163 NM_004244 RBP3 NM_002900 CFD NM_001928 CXCR4
NM_003467 EHHADH NM_001966 NPL NM_030769 NR1D1 NM_021724 RORB
NM_006914 MREG NM_018000 VNN2 NM_004665 IGJ NM_144646 CPE NM_001873
RAPGEF4 NM_007023 MAFB NM_005461 RCVRN NM_002903 EDNRB NM_000115
S100A9 NM_002965 TOB1 NM_005749 SUSD5 NM_015551 SLC25a24 NM_013386
SAG NM_000541 CDKN1C NM_000076 ACSL1 NM_001995 OPN1LW NM_020061
TOX3 NM_00108043 MEGF9 NM_00108049 LYVE1 NM_006691 TMTM127
NM_017849 FXYD3 NM_005971 CFI NM_000204 TNPO1 NM_002270 C4orf31
NM_024574 HPGD NM_000860 CLUL1 NM_199167 EZH1 NM_001991 TRPC1
NM_003304 KCND2 NM_012281 TRPC4 NM_016179 SOX11 NM_003108 IGF2BP3
NM_006547 RELN NM_005045 HSD17B2 NM_002153 FGFR3 NM_000142 ASPM
NM_018136 CYTL1 NM_018659 ELN NM_000501 BARD1 NM_000465 TRO
NM_016157 PTH NM_000315 SERPINH1 NM_001235 TMEFF1 NM_003692 COL9A3
NM_001853 C5orf13 NM_004772 PSPH NM_004577 NID2 NM_007361 COL11A1
NM_080629 LIPG NM_006033 APC NM_000038 ADAMTSL3 NM_207517 TSPAN12
NM_012338 PTPRD NM_002839 HOMER1 NM_004272 MAB21L2 NM_006439 TYR
NM_000372 TNNC1 NM_003280 CLGN NM_004362 PRMT7 NM_019023 PTPLA
NM_014241 MFAP2 NM_002403 GLRB NM_000824 TRPM3 NM_020952 PXDN
NM_012293 CYP27A1 NM_000784 KDELC1 NM_024089 PDGFC NM_016205
RASGRP3 NM_170672 NUP93 NM_014669 SMC6 NM_024624 C11orf9 NM_013279
WFDC1 NM_021197 CXorf57 NM_018015 HBG1 NM_000559 PIK3C3 NM_002647
CTSL2 NM_001333 NOTCH2NL NM_203458 KCNAB1 NM_003471 SLC5A3
NM_006933 ABHD2 NM_007011 SGMS1 NM_147156 GOLGA1 NM_002077 SFRP1
NM_003012 TFEC NM_012252 LRRC1 NM_018214 CAPN3 NM_173090 FLRT2
NM_013231 PNPLA3 NM_025225 TRIM36 NM_018700 NBEA NM_015678 DAAM1
NM_014992 PLCE1 NM_016341 PPFIBP2 NM_003621 MITF NM_000248 NELL2
NM_006159 SC4MOL NM_006745 PLAG1 NM_002655 IGF2BP2 NM_006548 SIX3
NM_005413 CDH3 NM_001793 DZIP1 NM_198968 FOXD1 NM_004472 WWTR1
NM_015472 GJA1 NM_000165 PLCB4 NM_000933 SEMA3C NM_006379 PKNOX2
NM_022062 COL8A2 NM_005202 WWC2 NM_024949 DMXL1 NM_005509 GAS1
NM_002048 GPR143 NM_000273 DCT NM_001922 NAV3 NM_014903 SMAD6
NM_005585 CDH1 NM_004360 ASAH1 NM_004315 RAB38 NM_022337 PAK1IP1
NM_017906 NOL8 NM_017948 CDO1 NM_001801 PHACTR2 NM_014721 SILV
NM_006928 TTLL4 NM_014640 MANEA NM_024641 PDPN NM_006474 FADS1
NM_013402 HSP90B1 NM_003299 PTPRG NM_002841 VEGFA NM_003376 EFHC1
NM_018100 SULF1 NM_015170 GPNMB NM_002510 SDC2 NM_002998 CSPG5
NM_006574 MED8 NM_201542 GULP1 NM_016315 MAB21L1 NM_005584 SCAMP1
NM_004866 SLC4A2 NM_003040 USP34 NM_014709 FGFR2 NM_000141 SLC6A15
NM_182767 LOXL1 NM_005576 SORBS2 NM_003603 LIN7C NM_018362 GEM
NM_005261 GPM6B NM_005278 APLP1 NM_005166 PITPNA NM_006224 ITGAV
NM_002210 RBP1 NM_002899 STAM2 NM_005843 TRPM1 NM_002420 NRIP1
NM_003489 ENPP2 NM_006209 RRAGD NM_021244 CHRNA3 NM_000743 SLC6A20
NM_020208 SERPINF1 NM_002615 IFT74 NM_025103 LHX2 NM_004789 ALDH1A3
NM_000693 MAP9 NM_00103958 SFRP5 NM_003015 SGK3 NM_013257 CLCN4
NM_001830 MFAP3L NM_00100955 BEST1 NM_004183
SOSTDC1 NM_015464 BMP4 NM_130851 MET NM_000245 SLC16A4 NM_004696
DUSP4 NM_057158 FRZB NM_001463 MYRIP NM_015460 TFPI2 NM_006528 TTR
NM_000371 TYRP1 NM_000550 RPE65 NM_000329 LIMCH1 NM_014988 SPAST
NM_199436 OSTM1 NM_014028 CYP20A1 NM_177538 ATF1 NM_005171 SIL1
NM_022464 MPDZ NM_003829 SEPT8 NM_0010988 DCUN1D4 NM_015115 PDZD8
NM_173791 LAMP2 NM_002294 DEGS1 NM_003676 DHPS NM_001930 MBNL2
NM_144778 DIXDC1 NM_033425 NUDT4 NM_199040 PTGDS NM_000954 CALU
NM_001219 RBM34 NM_015014 NEDD4L NM_015277 RHOBTB3 NM_014899 NDC80
NM_006101 ARMC9 NM_025139 PRNP NM_183079 AHR NM_001621 UBL3
NM_007106 ZNF19 NM_006961 RNF13 NM_183384 DAP3 NM_004632 CTBP2
NM_022802 KLHL24 NM_017644 TAX1BP1 NM_006024 BDH2 NM_020139 PSME4
NM_014614 GOLPH3L NM_018178 SLC16A1 NM_003051 PLOD2 NM_182943
SLC39A6 NM_012319 DNAJB14 NM_024920 LAPTM4B NM_018407 COX15
NM_004376 SMC3 NM_005445 ADAM9 NM_003816 ARL6IP1 NM_015161 FAM18B
NM_016078 MPHOSPH9 NM_022782 BAT2D1 NM_015172 WASL NM_003941 KLHL21
NM_014851 TIMP3 NM_000362 GRAMD3 NM_023927 LGALS8 NM_006499 BCLAF1
NM_014739 PCYOX1 NM_016297 EID1 NM_014335 LSR NM_015925 ITM2B
NM_021999 ADCY9 NM_001116 CRIM1 NM_016441 EFEMP1 NM_004105 ANKRD12
NM_015208 RDH11 NM_016026 CRX NM_000554 SLC24A1 NM_004727 PAX6
NM_000280 OTX2 NM_021728 KRT8 NM_002273 RLBP1 NM_000326 MERTK
NM_006343 MLANA NM_005511 RAB27A NM_183236 OCA2 NM_000275 KCNJ13
NM_002242 CFTR NM_000492 CLDN19 NM_148960 CLDN10 NM_182848 CLDN16
NM_006580 BSG NM_001728 COL4A3 NM_000091 FNDC5 NM_153756 ABCC8
NM_000352 CLCN2 NM_004366 SOX2 NM_003106 KLF4 NM_004235 CCND1
NM_053056 RDH5 NM_002905 COL8A1 NM_001850 COL9A1 NM_001851 KRT5
NM_000424 PTCH1 NM_000264 SLC7A5 NM_003486 SLC2A1 NM_006516 IGFBP5
NM_000599 KRT6B NM_005555 CTNND2 NM_001332 SOX9 NM_000346 KCNJ10
NM_002241 KCNJ11 NM_000525 KCNA2 NM_004974 KCNB1 NM_004975 CACNA1B
NM_000718 CRYAB NM_001885 B2M NM_004048 HPRT1 NM_000194 RPL13A
NM_012423 GAPDH NM_002046 ACTB NM_001101 HGDC SA_00105 SLC12A1
NM_000338 MYC NM_002467
[0185] The cells can express at least 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300,
350, 360, 370 or all of these genes. In some embodiments, the cells
express MITF (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--000248), PAX6
(GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--000280), LHX2 (GENBANK.RTM.
Accession No. NM.sub.--004789), TFEC (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--012252), CDH1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--004360), CDH3 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--001793), CLDN10 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--182848), CLDN16 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--006580), CLDN19 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--148960), BEST1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--004183), TIMP3 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000362), TRPM1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--002420), TRPM3 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--020952), TTR (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--000371),
VEGFA (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--003376), CSPG5
(GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--006574), DCT (GENBANK.RTM.
Accession No. NM.sub.--001922), TYRP1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000550), TYR (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--000372),
SILV (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--006928), SIL1
(GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--022464), MLANA
(NM.sub.--005511), RAB27A (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--183236), OCA2 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000275), GPR143 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000273), GPNMB (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--002510), MYO6 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--004999), MYRIP (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--015460), RPE65 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000329), RBP1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--002899), RBP4 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--006744), RDH5 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--002905), RDH11 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--016026), RLBP1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000326), MERTK (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--006343), ALDH1A3 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000693), FBLN1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--001996), SLC16A1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--003051), KCNV2 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--133497), KCNJ13 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--002242), and CFTR (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000492). In other embodiments, the RPE cells express 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,
38, 38, 39, 40 or all of these proteins. The GENBANK.RTM.
disclosures are incorporated by reference herein, as available on
Jan. 31, 2013.
[0186] In some embodiments, the RPE cells express MITF, PAX6, LHX2,
TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, TRPM1,
TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SIL1, MLANA,
RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5,
RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and
CFTR.
[0187] In further embodiments, the RPE cells also express one or
more mciroRNAs. In specific non-limiting examples, the cells
express one or more of mircorRNAs listed in Table 2.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 2 Precursor Precursor Mature Mature miRNA
miRNA Precursor miRNA miRNA Position Query Accession Sanger ID
Version Accession Sanger ID 1 hsa-miR-9* MI0000466 hsa-mir-9-1 14
MIMAT0000442 hsa-miR-9* 2 hsa-miR-99a MI0000101 hsa-mir-99a 14
MIMAT0000097 hsa-miR-99a 3 hsa-miR-105 MI0000111 hsa-mir-105-1 14
MIMAT0000102 hsa-miR-105 4 hsa-miR-107 MI0000114 hsa-mir-107 14
MIMAT0000104 hsa-miR-107 5 hsa-miR-125b MI0000446 hsa-mir-125b-1 14
MIMAT0000423 hsa-miR-125b 6 hsa-miR-129* MI0000252 hsa-mir-129-1 14
MIMAT0004548 hsa-miR-129* 7 hsa-miR-152 MI0000462 hsa-mir-152 14
MIMAT0000438 hsa-miR-152 8 hsa-miR-184 MI0000481 hsa-mir-184 14
MIMAT0000454 hsa-miR-184 9 hsa-miR-187 MI0000274 hsa-mir-187 14
MIMAT0000262 hsa-miR-187 10 hsa-miR-198 MI0000240 hsa-mir-198 14
MIMAT0000228 hsa-miR-198 11 hsa-miR-200a MI0000737 hsa-mir-200a 14
MIMAT0000682 hsa-miR-200a 12 hsa-miR-200b MI0000342 hsa-mir-200b 14
MIMAT0000318 hsa-miR-200b 13 hsa-miR-203 MI0000283 hsa-mir-203 14
MIMAT0000264 hsa-miR-203 14 hsa-miR-204 MI0000284 hsa-mir-204 14
MIMAT0000265 hsa-miR-204 15 hsa-miR-205 MI0000285 hsa-mir-205 14
MIMAT0000266 hsa-miR-205 16 hsa-miR-211 MI0000287 hsa-mir-211 14
MIMAT0000268 hsa-miR-211 17 hsa-miR-221 MI0000298 hsa-mir-221 14
MIMAT0000278 hsa-miR-221 18 hsa-miR-222 MI0000299 hsa-mir-222 14
MIMAT0000279 hsa-miR-222 19 hsa-miR-302b MI0000772 hsa-mir-302b 14
MIMAT0000715 hsa-miR-302b 20 hsa-miR-9 MI0000466 hsa-mir-9-1 14
MIMAT0000441 hsa-miR-9 21 hsa-miR-34b MI0000742 hsa-mir-34b 14
MIMAT0004676 hsa-miR-34b 22 hsa-miR-96 MI0000098 hsa-mir-96 14
MIMAT0000095 hsa-miR-96 23 hsa-miR-135b MI0000810 hsa-mir-135b 14
MIMAT0000758 hsa-miR-135b 24 hsa-miR-138 MI0000476 hsa-mir-138-1 14
MIMAT0000430 hsa-miR-138 25 hsa-miR-149 MI0000478 hsa-mir-149 14
MIMAT0000450 hsa-miR-149 26 hsa-miR-181a MI0000289 hsa-mir-181a-1
14 MIMAT0000256 hsa-miR-181a 27 hsa-miR-181b MI0000270
hsa-mir-181b-1 14 MIMAT0000257 hsa-miR-181b 28 hsa-miR-182
MI0000272 hsa-mir-182 14 MIMAT0000259 hsa-miR-182 29 hsa-miR-183
MI0000273 hsa-mir-183 14 MIMAT0000261 hsa-miR-183 30 hsa-miR-126
MI0000471 hsa-mir-126 14 MIMAT0000445 hsa-miR-126 31 hsa-miR-127-3p
MI0000472 hsa-mir-127 14 MIMAT0000446 hsa-miR-127-3p 32
hsa-miR-127-5p MI0000472 hsa-mir-127 14 MIMAT0004604 hsa-miR-127-5p
33 hsa-miR-134 MI0000474 hsa-mir-134 14 MIMAT0000447 hsa-miR-134 34
hsa-miR-137 MI0000454 hsa-mir-137 14 MIMAT0000429 hsa-miR-137 35
hsa-miR-142-3p MI0000458 hsa-mir-142 14 MIMAT0000434 hsa-miR-142-3p
36 hsa-miR-145 MI0000461 hsa-mir-145 14 MIMAT0000437 hsa-miR-145 37
hsa-miR-146a MI0000477 hsa-mir-146a 14 MIMAT0000449 hsa-miR-146a 38
hsa-miR-150 MI0000479 hsa-mir-150 14 MIMAT0000451 hsa-miR-150 39
hsa-miR-155 MI0000681 hsa-mir-155 14 MIMAT0000646 hsa-miR-155 40
hsa-miR-214 MI0000290 hsa-mir-214 14 MIMAT0000271 hsa-miR-214 41
hsa-miR-223 MI0000300 hsa-mir-223 14 MIMAT0000280 hsa-miR-223 42
hsa-miR-323-3p MI0000807 hsa-mir-323 14 MIMAT0000755 hsa-miR-323-3p
43 hsa-miR-323-5p MI0000807 hsa-mir-323 14 MIMAT0004696
hsa-miR-323-5p 44 hsa-miR-17 MI0000071 hsa-mir-17 14 MIMAT0000070
hsa-miR-17 45 hsa-miR-18a MI0000072 hsa-mir-18a 14 MIMAT0000072
hsa-miR-18a 46 hsa-miR-19a MI0000073 hsa-mir-19a 14 MIMAT0000073
hsa-miR-19a 47 hsa-miR-20a MI0000076 hsa-mir-20a 14 MIMAT0000075
hsa-miR-20a 48 hsa-miR-302a MI0000738 hsa-mir-302a 14 MIMAT0000684
hsa-miR-302a 49 hsa-miR-302a* MI0000738 hsa-mir-302a 14
MIMAT0000683 hsa-miR-302a* 50 hsa-miR-302b* MI0000772 hsa-mir-302b
14 MIMAT0000714 hsa-miR-302b* 51 hsa-miR-302c MI0000773
hsa-mir-302c 14 MIMAT0000717 hsa-miR-302c 52 hsa-miR-302c*
MI0000773 hsa-mir-302c 14 MIMAT0000716 hsa-miR-302c* 53
hsa-miR-367* MI0000775 hsa-mir-367 14 MIMAT0004686 hsa-miR-367* 54
hsa-miR-371-3p MI0000779 hsa-mir-371 14 MIMAT0000723 hsa-miR-371-3p
55 hsa-miR-371-5p MI0000779 hsa-mir-371 14 MIMAT0004687
hsa-miR-371-5p 56 hsa-miR-372 MI0000780 hsa-mir-372 14 MIMAT0000724
hsa-miR-372 57 hsa-miR-373 MI0000781 hsa-mir-373 14 MIMAT0000726
hsa-miR-373 58 hsa-miR-373* MI0000781 hsa-mir-373 14 MIMAT0000725
hsa-miR-373* 59 hsa-miR-199b-3p MI0000282 hsa-mir-199b 14
MIMAT0004563 hsa-miR-199b-3p 60 hsa-Let-7b MI0000063 hsa-let-7b 14
MIMAT0000063 hsa-let-7b 61 hsa-Let-7c MI0000064 hsa-let-7c 14
MIMAT0000064 hsa-let-7c 62 hsa-Let-7d MI0000065 hsa-let-7d 14
MIMAT0000065 hsa-let-7d 63 hsa-Let-7g MI0000433 hsa-let-7g 14
MIMAT0000414 hsa-let-7g 64 hsa-miR-200c MI0000650 hsa-mir-200c 14
MIMAT0000617 hsa-miR-200c 65 hsa-miR-147 MI0000262 hsa-mir-147 14
MIMAT0000251 hsa-miR-147 66 hsa-miR-429 MI0001641 hsa-mir-429 14
MIMAT0001536 hsa-miR-429 67 hsa-miR-124 MI0000443 hsa-mir-124-1 14
MIMAT0000422 hsa-miR-124 68 hsa-miR-124* MI0000443 hsa-mir-124-1 14
MIMAT0004591 hsa-miR-124* 69 hsa-miR-216a MI0000292 hsa-mir-216a 14
MIMAT0000273 hsa-miR-216a 70 hsa-miR-216b MI0005569 hsa-mir-216b 14
MIMAT0004959 hsa-miR-216b 71 hsa-miR-139-3p MI0000261 hsa-mir-139
14 MIMAT0004552 hsa-miR-139-3p 72 hsa-miR-139-5p MI0000261
hsa-mir-139 14 MIMAT0000250 hsa-miR-139-5p 73 hsa-miR-199a-3p
MI0000242 hsa-mir-199a-1 14 MIMAT0000232 hsa-miR-199a-3p 74
hsa-miR-199a-5p MI0000242 hsa-mir-199a-1 14 MIMAT0000231
hsa-miR-199a-5p 75 hsa-miR-92a MI0000093 hsa-mir-92a-1 14
MIMAT0000092 hsa-miR-92a 76 hsa-miR-92a-1* MI0000093 hsa-mir-92a-1
14 MIMAT0004507 hsa-miR-92a-1* 77 hsa-Let-7a MI0000060 hsa-let-7a-1
14 MIMAT0000062 hsa-let-7a 78 hsa-Let-7a* MI0000060 hsa-let-7a-1 14
MIMAT0004481 hsa-let-7a* 79 hsa-Let-7a-2* MI0000061 hsa-let-7a-2 14
MIMAT0010195 hsa-let-7a-2* 80 hsa-miR-455-3p MI0003513 hsa-mir-455
14 MIMAT0004784 hsa-miR-455-3p 81 hsa-miR-455-5p MI0003513
hsa-mir-455 14 MIMAT0003150 hsa-miR-455-5p 82 hsa-miR-584 MI0003591
hsa-mir-584 14 MIMAT0003249 hsa-miR-584 83 hsa-miR-886-5p MI0005527
hsa-mir-886 14 MIMAT0004905 hsa-miR-886-5p 84 hsa-miR-34a MI0000268
hsa-mir-34a 14 MIMAT0000255 hsa-miR-34a 85 hsa-miR-217 MI0000293
hsa-mir-217 14 MIMAT0000274 hsa-miR-217 86 hsa-miR-186 MI0000483
hsa-mir-186 14 MIMAT0000456 hsa-miR-186 87 hsa-miR-148a MI0000253
hsa-mir-148a 14 MIMAT0000243 hsa-miR-148a 88 hsa-miR-340 MI0000802
hsa-mir-340 14 MIMAT0004692 hsa-miR-340 89 SNORD48 NR_002745
SNORD48 90 SNORD47 NR_002746 SNORD47 91 SNORD44 NR_002750 SNORD44
92 RNU6-2 NR_002752 RNU6-2 93 miRTC N/A miRTC 94 miRTC N/A miRTC 95
PPC N/A PPC 96 PPC N/A PPC
[0188] Thus, in some embodiments, the cells express at least 2, 5,
10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80, 85, 90, 95
or all 96 of the miRNAs listed in Table 2. In one specific,
non-limiting example, the cells express miR204 and miR211.
[0189] Control Genes include, but are not limited to, the genes
listed in Table 3 below.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 3 POU5F1 NM_002701 T NM_003181 TF NM_001063
HOXB5 NM_002147 KRT23 NM_015515 HOXA4 NM_002141 VSX2 NM_182894 AFP
NM_001134 FOXA2 NM_021784 SMAD3 NM_005902 NANOG NM_024865
[0190] These genes are expressed in RPE cells and in control cells.
Thus, in some embodiments, the RPE cells express one or more of
these markers. The RPE cells can express 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10 or all of these markers.
[0191] In yet other embodiments the RPE cells have a resting
potential of about -50 to about -60 mV, and a fluid transport rate
of about 5 to about 10 .mu.l cm.sup.-2h.sup.-1. In additional
embodiments, the RPE cells express MITF, PAX6, LHX2, TFEC, CDH1,
CDH3, CLDN10, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, TRPM1, TRPM3, TTR,
VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SILL MLANA, RAB27A, OCA2,
GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1,
MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and CFTR, express
miR204 and miR211, have a resting potential of about -50 to about
-60 mV and have a fluid transport rate of about 5 to about 10 .mu.l
cm.sup.-2h.sup.-1.
[0192] Compositions are also provided that include a scaffold, such
as a polymeric carrier and/or an extracellular matrix, and an
effective amount of the RPE cells disclosed herein. The
extraceullar matrix can be a human extracellular matrix. The
polymeric particle can be a microparticle. In some embodiments, the
cells are provided as a monolayer.
[0193] A variety of biological or synthetic solid matrix materials
(i.e., solid support matrices, biological adhesives or dressings,
and biological/medical scaffolds) are suitable for use. The matrix
material is generally physiologically acceptable and suitable for
use in vivo applications. Non-limiting examples of such
physiolgocially acceptable materials include, but are not limited
to, solid matrix materials that are absorbable and/or
non-absorbable, such as small intestine submucosa (SIS), e.g.,
porcine-derived (and other SIS sources); crosslinked or
non-crosslinked alginate, hydrocolloid, foams, collagen gel,
collagen sponge, polyglycolic acid (PGA) mesh, polyglactin (PGL)
mesh, fleeces, and bioadhesives (e.g., fibrin glue and fibrin gel).
The polymer can be poly(DL)-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) (see Lu
et al., J. Biomater Sci Polym Ed. 9(11): 1187-205, 1998). In other
embodiments, the matric includes poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and
poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) such as with a co-polymer
ratio of about 90:10, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 10:90 (PLLA:PLGA) (see
Thomson et al., J. Biomed. Mater Res. A 95: 1233-42, 2010).
[0194] Suitable polymeric carriers also include porous meshes or
sponges formed of synthetic or natural polymers, as well as polymer
solutions, One nonlimiting form of a matrix is a polymeric mesh or
sponge. Another non-limiting example is a polymeric hydrogel.
Natural polymers that can be used include proteins such as
collagen, albumin, and fibrin; and polysaccharides such as alginate
and polymers of hyaluronic acid. Synthetic polymers include both
biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers. Examples of
biodegradable polymers include polymers of hydroxy acids such as
polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), and polylactic
acid-glycolic acid (PLGA), polyorthoesters, polyanhydrides,
polyphosphazenes, and combinations thereof, Non-biodegradable
polymers include polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, ethylene vinyl
acetate, and polyvinyl alcohols.
[0195] Polymers that can form ionic or covalently crosslinked
hydrogels which are malleable can be used. A hydrogel is a
substance formed when an organic polymer (natural or synthetic) is
crosslinked via covalent, ionic, or hydrogen bonds to create a
three-dimensional open-lattice structure which entraps water
molecules to form a gel. Examples of materials which can be used to
form a hydrogel include polysaccharides such as alginate,
polyphosphazines, and polyacrylates, which are crosslinked
ionically, or block copolymers such as PLURONICS.TM. or
TETRONICS.TM., polyethylene oxide-polypropylene glycol block
copolymers which are crosslinked by temperature or pH,
respectively. Other materials include proteins such as fibrin,
polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, hyaluronic acid and
collagen.
[0196] In general, these polymers are at least partially soluble in
aqueous solutions, such as water, buffered salt solutions, or
aqueous alcohol solutions that have charged side groups, or a
monovalent ionic salt thereof. Examples of polymers with acidic
side groups that can be reacted with cations are
poly(phosphazenes), poly(acrylic acids), poly(methacrylic acids),
copolymers of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, poly(vinyl
acetate), and sulfonated polymers, such as sulfonated polystyrene.
Copolymers having acidic side groups formed by reaction of acrylic
or methacrylic acid and vinyl ether monomers or polymers can also
be used. Examples of acidic groups are carboxylic acid groups,
sulfonic acid groups, halogenated (preferably fluorinated) alcohol
groups, phenolic OH groups, and acidic OH groups. Examples of
polymers with basic side groups that can be reacted with anions are
poly(vinyl amines), poly(vinyl pyridine), poly(vinyl imidazole),
and some imino substituted polyphosphazenes. The ammonium or
quaternary salt of the polymers can also he formed from the
backbone nitrogens or pendant imino groups. Examples of basic side
groups are amino and imino groups.
[0197] Non-limiting examples of suitable materials for the
substrate include parylene polypropylene, polyimide, glass,
nitinol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrolidone, collagen,
chemically-treated collagen, polyethersulfone (PES),
poly(glycerol-sebacate) PGS, poly(styrene-isobutyl-styrene),
polyurethane, ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), polyetherether ketone
(PEEK), Kynar (Polyvinylidene Fluoride; PVDF),
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA),
Pebax, acrylic, polyolefin, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and other
silicone elastomers, polypropylene, hydroxyapetite, titanium, gold,
silver, platinum, other metals and alloys, ceramics, plastics and
mixtures or combinations thereof. Additional suitable materials
used to construct certain embodiments of the substrates include,
but are not limited to, poly-para-xylylenes (e.g., parylene,
including but not limited to parylene A, parylene AM, parylene C,
ammonia treated parylene, parylene C treated with polydopamine),
poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyethylene-vinyl acetate,
poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(D,L-lactide),
poly(D,L-lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate), collagen, heparinized
collagen, denatured collagen, modified collagen (e.g., silicone
with gelatin), other cell growth matrices (such as SYNTHEMAX.TM.),
poly(caprolactone), poly(glycolic acid), and/or other polymer,
copolymers, or block co-polymers, poly(caprolactone) containing
cyclic Arginine-Glycine-Asparagine, cyclic or linear
Arginine-Glycine-aspartic acid, blends of polycaprolactone and
polyethylene glycol (PCL-PEG), thermoplastic polyurethanes,
silicone-modified polyether urethanes, poly(carbonate urethane), or
polyimide. Thermoplastic polyurethanes are polymers or copolymers
which may comprise aliphatic polyurethanes, aromatic polyurethanes,
polyurethane hydrogel-forming materials, hydrophilic polyurethanes,
or combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples include elasthane
(poly(ether urethane)) such as ELASTHANE.TM. 80A, Lubrizol,
TECOPHILIC.TM., PELLETHANE.TM., CARBOTHANE.TM., TECOTHANE.TM.,
TECOPLAST.TM., AND ESTANE.TM.. Silicone-modified polyether
urethanes may include CARBOSIL.TM. 20 or PURSIL.TM. 20 80A, and the
like. Poly(carbonate urethane) may include BIONATE.TM. 80A or
similar polymers. Moreover, in several embodiments the substrate
(and/or the cells) comprises materials (or chemicals) that allow
for visualization of the substrate in situ, which are unaffected by
the cryopreservation (and thawing) of the substrate and cells
[0198] The retinal pigment epithelial cells produced by the methods
disclosed herein can be cryopreserved, see for example, PCT
Publication No. 2012/149484 A2, which is incorporated by reference
herein. The cells can be cryopreserved with or without a substrate.
In several embodiments, the storage temperature ranges from about
-50.degree. C. to about -60.degree. C., about -600.degree. C. to
about -70.degree. C., about -70.degree. C. to about -80.degree. C.,
about -80.degree. C. to about -90.degree. C., about -90.degree. C.
to about -100.degree. C., and overlapping ranges thereof. In some
embodiments, lower temperatures are used for the storage (e.g.,
maintenance) of the cryopreserved cells. In several embodiments,
liquid nitrogen (or other similar liquid coolant) is used to store
the cells. In further embodiments, the cells are stored for greater
than about 6 hours. In additional embodiments, the cells are stored
about 72 hours. In several embodiments, the cells are stored 48
hours to about one week. In yet other embodiments, the cells are
stored for about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 weeks. In further
embodiments, the cells are stored for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 67, 8, 9, 10,
11 or 12 months. The cells can also be stored for longer times. The
cells can be cryopreserved separately or on a substrate, such as
any of the substrates disclosed herein.
[0199] A general method of cryopreserving cells is disclosed
herein, that can be used for cryopreservation of any cell type,
such as stem cells, including iPSCs, and differentiated cells, such
as retinal pigment epithelial cells. The method includes the use of
alginate. "Alginate" (or "alginic acid" or "algin") refers to the
anionic polysaccharide distributed widely in the cell walls of
brown algae. Alginate forms water-soluble salts with alkali metals,
such as sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium, ammonium, and the
substituted ammonium cations derived from lower amines, such as
methyl amine, ethanol amine, diethanol amine, and triethanol amine.
Alginate includes calcium alginate, sodium alginate,
propylene-glycol alginate, and potassium alginate.
[0200] In some embodiments, cells, such as the disclosed retinal
pigment epithelial cells are contacted with an effective amount of
alginate. The cells are contacted with alginate, and then exposed
to divalent cations, such as Calcium, Barium, Copper, Zinc or
Strontium) which results in cross-linking of the alginate polymers
in the cell/liquid alginate suspension (see for example, U.S.
Published Patent Application No. 2012/0171295, incorporated herein
by reference). In certain embodiments, the divalent cation used to
cross-link the alginate in the cell/liquid alginate solution is
calcium chloride (CaCl.sub.2), barium chloride (BaCl.sub.2),
strontium chloride (SrCl.sub.2), copper chloride (CuCl.sub.2), or
zinc chloride (ZnCl.sub.2), In a specific embodiment, the divalent
cation used to cross-link the alginate in the cell/liquid alginate
solution is calcium chloride (CaCl.sub.2). In certain embodiments,
the solution of divalent cation comprises about 0.5%, about 0.75%,
about 1.0%, about 1.25%, about 1.5%, about 1.75%, or about 2.0%
divalent cation. In a specific embodiment, the solution of divalent
cation comprises 1.5% divalent cation, e.g., CaCl.sub.2.
[0201] In some embodiments, additional cryoprotectants can be used.
For example, the cells can be cryopreserved in a cryopreservation
solution comprising one or more cryoprotectants, such as DMSO,
serum albumin, such as human or bovine serum albumin. In certain
embodiments, the solution comprises about 1%, about 1.5%, about 2%,
about 2.5%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%) about 7%, about
8%, about 9%, or about 10% DMSO. In other embodiments, the solution
comprises about 1% to about 3%, about 2% to about 4%, about 3% to
about 5%, about 4% to about 6%, about 5% to about 7%, about 6% to
about 8%, about 7% to about 9%, or about 8% to about 10% DMSO or
albumin. In a specific embodiment, the solution comprises 2,5%
DMSO, In another specific embodiment, the solution comprises 10%
DMSO.
[0202] Cells can be cryopreserved in small containers (e.g.,
ampoules); in bags suitable for cryopreservation; or in any other
suitable container for cryopreservation. In some embodiments, cells
are cryopreserved in commercially available cryopreservation
medium. The cells can be cryopreserved in a cryopreservation
solution comprising one or more solutions for use in storing cells.
Cryopreservation solutions included CryoStor CS10.RTM. and
HYPOTHERMOSO1.RTM. (BioLife Solutions, Bothell, Wash.)). In certain
embodiments, the solution comprises about 25%, about 30%, about
35%, about 40%, about 45%, about 50%, about 55%, about 60%, about
65%, or about 70% HYPOTHERMOSOL.RTM.. In other embodiments, the
solution comprises about 25% to about 50%, about 40% to about 60%,
about 50% to about 60%, about 50% to about 70%, or about 60% to
about 70% HYPOTHERMOSOL.RTM.. In a specific embodiment, the
solution comprises 55% HYPOTHERMOSOL.RTM.. In another specific
embodiment, the solution comprises 57.5% HYPOTHERMOSOL.RTM.. In
additional embodiments, the cryopreservation solution can include
one or more excipients, such as dextran, starch, glucose, lactose,
sucrose, gelatin, silica gel, glycerol monostearate, sodium
chloride, glycerol, propylene, and/or glycol. The cryopreservation
solution can include media, such as the media disclosed herein. In
additional embodiments, the medium can be phosphate buffered saline
or Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM).
[0203] Cells may be cooled, for example, at about 1.degree.
C./minute during cryopreservation. In some embodiments, the
cryopreservation temperature is about -80.degree. C. to about
-180.degree. C., or about -125.degree. C. to about -140.degree. C.
In some embodiments, the cells are cooled to 4.degree. C. prior to
cooling at about 1.degree. C./minute. Cryopreserved cells can be
transferred to vapor phase of liquid nitrogen prior to thawing for
use. In some embodiments, for example, once the cells have reached
about -80.degree. C., they are transferred to a liquid nitrogen
storage area. Cryopreservation can also be done using a
controlled-rate freezer. Cryopreserved cells may be thawed, e.g.,
at a temperature of about 25.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C., and
typically at a temperature of about 37.degree. C.
[0204] The human RPE cells described herein, or a pharmaceutical
composition including these cells, can be used for the manufacture
of a medicament to treat a condition in a patient in need thereof.
The RPE cells can be previously cryopreserved. The disclosed RPE
cells are derived from iPSCs, and thus can be used to provide
"personalized medicine" for patients with eye diseases. In some
embodiments, somatic cells obtained from patients can be
genetically engineered to correct the disease causing mutation,
differentiated into RPE, and engineered to form an RPE tissue. This
RPE tissue can be used to replace the endogenous degenerated RPE of
the same patient. Alternatively, iPSCs can be generated from a
healthy donor or from HLA homozygous "super-donors" can be used.
RPE cells can be treated in vitro with certain factors, such as
pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), transforming growth
factor (TGF)-beta, and/or retinoic acid to generate an
anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive environment in vivo.
[0205] Various eye conditions may be treated or prevented by the
introduction of the RPE cells obtained using the methods disclosed
herein. The conditions include retinal diseases or disorders
generally associated with retinal dysfunction or degradation,
retinal injury, and/or loss of retinal pigment epithelium.
Conditions that can be treated include, without limitation,
degenerative diseases of the retina, such as Stargardt's macular
dystrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration (such as age
related macular degeneration), glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Additional conditions include Lebers congenital amaurosis,
hereditary or acquired macular degeneration, Best disease, retinal
detachment, gyrate atrophy, choroideremia, pattern dystrophy, other
dystrophies of the RPE, and RPE and retinal damage due to damage
caused by any one of photic, laser, inflammatory, infectious,
radiation, neovascular or traumatic injury. In certain embodiments,
methods are provided for treating or preventing a condition
characterized by retinal degeneration, comprising administering to
a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a composition
comprising RPE cells. These methods can include selecting a subject
with one or more of these conditions, and administering a
therapeutically effective amount of the RPE cells sufficient to
treat the condition and/or ameliorate symptoms of the condition.
The RPE cells may be transplanted in various formats. For example,
the RPE cells may be introduced into the target site in the form of
cell suspension, or adhered onto a matrix, extracellular matrix or
substrate such as a biodegradable polymer, as a monolayer, or a
combination. The RPE cells may also be transplanted together
(co-transplantation) with other retinal cells, such as with
photoreceptors. In some embodiments, the RPE cells are produced
from iPSCs from the subject to be treated, arid thus are
autologous. In other embodiments, the RPE cells are produced from
an MHC-matched donor. The RPE cells can be introduced to various
target sites within a subject's eye. In some embodiments, RPE cells
are introduced, such as by transplantation, to the subretinal space
of the eye, which is the anatomical location of the RPE (between
the photoreceptor outer segments and the choroids) in mammals. In
addition, dependent upon migratory ability and/or positive
paracrine effects of the cells, introduction into additional ocular
compartments can be considered, such as the vitreal space, the
inner or outer retina, the retinal periphery and within the
choroids.
[0206] The cells can be introduced by various techniques known in
the art. Methods for performing RPE transplants are disclosed in,
for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,027, U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,791,
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,250; Biochem Biophys Res Commun Feb. 24,
2000; 268(3): 842-6; and Opthalmic Surg February 1991; 22(2):
102-8). Methods for performing corneal transplants are described
in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,785; Curr Opin Opthalmol
August 1992; 3 (4): 473-81; Ophthalmic Surg Lasers April 1998; 29
(4): 305-8; and Opthalmology April 2000; 107 (4): 719-24. In some
embodiments, transplantation is performed via pars pana vitrectomy
surgery followed by delivery of the RPE cells through a small
retinal opening into the sub-retinal space or by direct injection.
Alternatively, RPE cells can be delivered into the subretinal space
via a trans-scleral, trans-choroidal approach. In addition, direct
trans-scleral injection into the vitreal space or delivery to the
anterior retinal periphery in proximity to the ciliary body can be
performed.
[0207] The cells can also be incorporated into a delivery device.
If mainly paracrine effects are to be utilized, cells can be
delivered and maintained in the eye encapsulated within a
semi-permeable container, which decreases exposure of the cells to
the host immune system (Neurotech USA CNTF delivery system; PNAS.
103(10) 3896-3901, 2006).
[0208] The RPE cells can be introduced into the target site in the
form of cell suspension, adhered onto a matrix, such as
extracellular matrix, or provided on substrate such as a
biodegradable polymer. The RPE cells can also be transplanted
together (co-transplantation) with other cells, such as retinal
cells with photoreceptors. Thus, a composition comprising RPE cells
obtained by the methods disclosed herein is provided. In some
embodiments, these RPE cells include a tyrosinase enhancer operably
linked to a promoter and a nucleic acid encoding a marker. In other
embodiments, the RPE cells also include a second constitutive
promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding a second
marker.
Screening Methods and Identification of RPE Cells
[0209] Methods are also provided for the identification of RPE
cells, and/or confirming a cell is an RPE cell. The cells can be
produced using the methods disclosed herein.
[0210] A method is provided herein for identifying an agent that
alters the differentiation and/or proliferation of RPE cells. In
some embodiments, methods are provided for identifying an agent
that alters the proliferation of RPE cells. The methods include
contacting an RPE cell with an effective amount of an agent of
interest. In some embodiments, methods are provided for identifying
an agent that increases differentiation of RPE.
[0211] In additional embodiments, methods are provided for
identifying an agent that affects RPE cell survival, and/or changes
the endogenous expression of genes in RPE cells. Therapeutic agents
can be identified for the treatment of disease using these methods.
In some embodiments, methods are provided for identifying an agent
that affects the epithelial phenotype of RPE cells. The method
includes contacting iPSCs, RPEs, or embryoid bodies with the agent
of interest, and assaying the production and/or survival and/or
phenotype of RPE cells. The agent can be introduced into any step
of the methods disclosed herein.
[0212] RPE cells produced using the methods disclosed herein, or
other RPE cells, can also be contact with an agent, and assessed
using the methods disclosed below. These methods can be used to
identify agents that affect expression of genes, or to identify
agents that affect survival of RPE cells. In some embodiments, the
RPE cells are treated with a stressor, such as thapsigargin,
A23187, DL-dithiotreitol, or 2-deoxy-D-glucose.
[0213] The test compound can be any compound of interest, including
chemical compounds, small molecules, polypeptides, growth factors,
cytokines, or other biological agents (for example antibodies). In
several examples, a panel of potential neurotrophic agents are
screened. In other embodiments a panel of polypeptide variants is
screened.
[0214] In some embodiments, methods are provided for determining if
an agent of interest increases the differentiation of retinal
pigment epithelial cells. The method includes culturing the
embryoid bodies produced from human induced pluripotent stem cells
comprising a nucleic acid encoding a first marker operably linked
to a retinal pigment epithelial cell specific promoter, and
comprising a second marker operably linked to a constitutive
promoter, as disclosed above, in a first medium comprising two Wnt
pathway inhibitor and a Nodal pathway inhibitor. The embryoid
bodies are plated on a tissue culture substrate in a second medium
that (a) does not comprise beta fibroblast growth fact (bFGF) (b)
comprises a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) inhibitor, the
two Wnt pathway inhibitors, and the Nodal pathway inhibitor; and
(c) comprises about 20 to about 90 ng of Noggin to form
differentiating retinal pigment epithelial cells. The
differentiating retinal pigment epithelial cells are cultured in a
third medium comprising ACTIVAN A and WNT3a. The cells are then
cultured in a fourth retinal pigment epithelial cell (RPE) medium
comprising about 5% fetal serum, a canonical WNT inhibitor, a
non-canonical WNT inducer, and inhibitors of the Sonic and FGF
pathway to producing human retinal pigment epithelial cells.
Suitable methods are disclosed herein.
[0215] One, several or all of these steps are performed in the
presence of the agent of interest. The expression of the first
marker in the retinal pigment epithelial cells is compared to the
expression of the second marker, wherein an increase in expression
of the first marker as compared to the second marker indicates that
the agent increases the differentiation of retinal pigment
epithelial cells
[0216] Methods for preparing a combinatorial library of molecules
that can be tested for a desired activity are well known in the art
and include, for example, methods of making a phage display library
of peptides, which can be constrained peptides (see, for example,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,699; U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,347; Scott and Smith,
Science 249:386-390, 1992; Markland et al., Gene 109:13-19, 1991),
a peptide library (U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,563); an FDA-approved drug
library (see, for example, Huang, E; Southall, N; Wang, Y et al.,
Science Translational Medicine 3: 1-12); a peptidomimetic library
(Blondelle et al., Trends Anal Chem. 14:83-92, 1995); a nucleic
acid library (O'Connell et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci., USA
93:5883-5887, 1996; Tuerk and Gold, Science 249:505-510, 1990; Gold
et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem. 64:763-797, 1995); an oligosaccharide
library (York et al., Carb. Res. 285:99-128, 1996; Liang et al.,
Science 274:1520-1522, 1996; Ding et al., Adv. Expt. Med. Biol.
376:261-269, 1995); a lipoprotein library (de Kruif et al., FEBS
Lett. 3 99:23 2-23 6, 1996); a glycoprotein or glycolipid library
(Karaoglu et al., J Cell Biol. 130.567-577, 1995); or a chemical
library containing, for example, drugs or other pharmaceutical
agents (Gordon et al., J Med. Chem. 37.1385-1401, 1994; Ecker and
Crooke, BioTechnology 13:351-360, 1995). Polynucleotides can be
particularly useful as agents that can alter a function of cells
(such as, but not limited to iPSCs, embryoid bodies and RPE cells)
because nucleic acid molecules having binding specificity for
cellular targets, including cellular polypeptides, exist naturally,
and because synthetic molecules having such specificity can be
readily prepared and identified (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,750,342).
[0217] In one embodiment, for a high throughput format, iPSCs,
embryoid bodies or RPE progenitors can be introduced into wells of
a multi-well plate or of a glass slide or microchip, and can be
contacted with the test agent. Generally, the cells are organized
in an array, particularly an addressable array, such that robotics
conveniently can be used for manipulating the cells and solutions
and for monitoring the stem or precursor cells, particularly with
respect to the function being examined. An advantage of using a
high throughput format is that a number of test agents can be
examined in parallel, and, if desired, control reactions also can
be run under identical conditions as the test conditions. As such,
the methods disclosed herein provide a means to screen one, a few,
or a large number of test agents in order to identify an agent that
can alter a function of cells, for example, an agent that induces
the cells to differentiate into a desired cell type, or that
affects differentiation, survival and/or cell proliferation. High
throughput screens can be used to assess phenotype and survival.
These screens can be used to identify drugs that can affect RPE
phenotype and survival. In some embodiments, RPE phenotype is
assayed by loss/gain of a fluorescent signal and survival is
assayed (such as by an ATP based cell titer glow assay).
[0218] These methods can include evaluating expression of one or
more of the genes listed in Table 1, Table A or FIG. 27C. In some
embodiments, the expression of 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350,
360, 370 or all of the genes listed in Table 1 can be assessed. For
any of these methods, the expression of one or more of MITF
(GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--000248), PAX6 (GENBANK.RTM.
Accession No. NM.sub.--000280), LHX2 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--004789), TFEC (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--012252), CDH1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--004360), CDH3 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--001793), CLDN10 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--182848), CLDN16 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--006580), CLDN19 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--148960), BEST1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--004183), TIMP3 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000362), TRPM1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--002420), TRPM3 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--020952), TTR (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--000371),
VEGFA (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--003376), CSPG5
(GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--006574), DCT (GENBANK.RTM.
Accession No. NM.sub.--001922), TYRP1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000550), TYR (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--000372),
SILV (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--006928), SIL1
(GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--022464), MLANA
(NM.sub.--005511), RAB27A (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--183236), OCA2 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000275), GPR143 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000273), GPNMB (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--002510), MYO6 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--004999), MYRIP (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--015460), RPE65 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000329), RBP1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--002899), RBP4 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--006744), RDH5 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--002905), RDH11 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--016026), RLBP1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000326), MERTK (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--006343), ALDH1A3 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000693), FBLN1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--001996), SLC16A1 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--003051), KCNV2 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--133497), KCNJ13 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--002242), and CFTR (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NM.sub.--000492) RNA or protein is assessed. The GENBANK.RTM.
disclosures are incorporated by reference herein, as available on
Jan. 31, 2013. Increased expression of the one or more mRNAs or
proteins following exposure to the agent, as compared to iPSC or
embryoid bodies not contacted with the agent, indicates that the
agent affects RPE cell differentiation, survival and/or
proliferation, specifically that it increases RPE cell
differentiation, survival and/or proliferation. Decreased
expression of the one or more mRNAs or proteins following exposure
to the agent, as compared to iPSC or embryoid bodies not contacted
with the agent, indicates that the agent affects RPE cell
differentiation, survival and/or proliferation, specifically that
it decreases RPE cell differentiation, survival and/or
proliferation.
[0219] In other embodiments, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,
30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 38, 39, 40 or all of these
mRNAs or proteins is assessed. Increased expression of 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,
23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 38,
39, 40 or all of these mRNAs or proteins indicates that the agent
increases RPE cell differentiation, survival and/or proliferation.
Decreased expression of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,
31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 38, 39, 40 or all of these mRNAs or
proteins indicates that the agent decreases RPE cell
differentiation, survival and/or proliferation.
[0220] In some embodiments, the expression of MITF, PAX6, LHX2,
TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, TRPM1,
TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SIL1, MLANA,
RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5,
RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and
CFTR is assessed. Increased expression indicates that the agent
increases RPE cell differentiation, survival or proliferation.
Decreased expression indicates that the agent decreases RPE cell
differentiation, survival or proliferation. The expression of one
or a combination of these markers also can be used to confirm that
a cell is a RPE cell.
[0221] In additional embodiments, the expression of at least 2, 5,
10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80, 85, 90, 95
or all 96 of the miRNAs listed in Table 2 is assessed. In further
embodiments, the production of miR204 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No.
NR.sub.--029621.1, Dec. 9, 2012, incorporated herein by reference)
and/or miR211 (GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NR.sub.--029624.1, Sep.
23, 2012, incorporated herein by reference) is assessed. Increased
production of one or both of the microRNAs indicates that the agent
affects RPE cells differentiation and/or proliferation, or confirms
that the cell is an RPE. Increased expression indicates that the
agent increases RPE cell differentiation, survival or
proliferation. Decreased expression indicates that the agent
decreases RPE cell differentiation, survival or proliferation.
These miRNAs can be detected using the exemplary methods for
detecting nucleic acids disclosed above.
[0222] In other embodiments, the expression of one or more of the
genes listed in Table 3 is also assessed. The expression of these
genes can be used as a control, such as a reference standard. Thus,
in some embodiments, the expression of these genes does not change
in the presence of the agent of interest. These genes can also be
used as reference standards.
[0223] In yet other embodiments, expression of one or more of the
molecules listed in FIG. 27C is evaluated. Thus, in some
embodiments, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 of the molecules
listed in FIG. 27C are evaluated. In additional embodiment,
expression of one or more of the molecules listed in Table A is
evaluated. The expression of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,
30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, or 37 of the molecules listed in Table
A can be evaluated.
[0224] In yet other embodiments, the expression of one or more of
SOX2 (e.g., GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--003106), PAX6
(e.g., GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--001604), RPE65 (e.g.,
GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--000329), RDH5, (e.g.,
GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--000329), TRPM1 (e.g.,
GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--002420) and BEST1 (e.g.,
GENBANK.RTM. Accession No. NM.sub.--004183) is evaluated, all
GENBANK.RTM. Accession information incorporated by reference as
available on Jan. 31, 2013. In some embodiments, compared to
undifferentiated iPSCs, iPSC-derived RPE expresses lower levels of
neural progenitor factor SOX2 and much higher levels of
RPE-specific genes PAX6, RPE65, RDH5, TRPM1, and BEST1.
[0225] The methods can include determining if an agent of interest
increases the differentiation iPSCs into RPE cells. If the agent
increases the differentiation into RPE cells, the expression of
SOX2 is decreased and the expression of PAX6, RPE65, RDH5, TRPM1,
and BEST1 is increased in the sample as compared to a control. In
another embodiment, the expression of SOX2 is decreased and the
expression of two, three, four or five of PAX6, RPE65, RDH5, TRPM1,
and BEST1 are increased in the sample as compared to a control. The
control can be a standard value or a sample contacted with an agent
known not to increase the differentiation into RPE cells. The
methods can also include determining if an agent of interest
decreases the differentiation of iPSCs into RPE cells, and thus
maintains the iPSCs in an undifferentiated state. If the agent
decreases the differentiation into RPE cells, the expression of
SOX2 is increased and the expression of PAX6, RPE65, RDH5, TRPM1,
and BEST1 is decreased as compared to a control. In another
embodiment, if the agent decreased differentiation into RPE cells,
the expression of SOX2 is increased and the expression of two,
three, four or five of PAX6, RPE65, RDH5, TRPM1, and BEST1 are
decreased in the sample as compared to a control. The control can
be a standard value or a sample construed with an agent known to
increase differentiation into RPE cells. Exemplary non-limiting
assays are disclosed in Example 8.
[0226] Nucleic acids can be detected by any method known in the
art. In some examples, nucleic acids are isolated, amplified, or
both, prior to detection. In an example, cells or a fraction
thereof, such as purified nucleic acids, can be incubated with
primers that permit the amplification of one or more of mRNAs,
under conditions sufficient to permit amplification of such
products. For example, the biological sample is incubated with
primers or probes that can bind to one or more of the disclosed
nucleic acid sequences (such as cDNA, genomic DNA, or RNA (such as
mRNA) under high stringency conditions. The resulting hybridization
can then be detected using methods known in the art.
[0227] The nucleic acid sample can be amplified. If a quantitative
result is desired, a method is utilized that maintains or controls
for the relative frequencies of the amplified nucleic acids.
Methods of "quantitative" amplification are well known to those of
skill in the art. For example, quantitative PCR involves
simultaneously co-amplifying a known quantity of a control sequence
using the same primers. This provides an internal standard that can
be used to calibrate the PCR reaction. The array can then include
probes specific to the internal standard for quantification of the
amplified nucleic acid.
[0228] Suitable amplification methods include, but are not limited
to, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (see Innis et al., PCR
Protocols, A guide to Methods and Application, Academic Press, Inc.
San Diego, 1990), ligase chain reaction (LCR) (see Wu and Wallace,
Genomics 4:560, 1989; Landegren et al., Science 241:1077, 1988; and
Barringer, et al., Gene 89:117, 1990), transcription amplification
(Kwoh et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86:1173, 1989), and
self-sustained sequence replication (Guatelli et al., Proc. Nat.
Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87:1874, 1990). In one embodiment, the sample
mRNA is reverse transcribed with a reverse transcriptase and a
primer consisting of oligo dT and a sequence encoding the phage T7
promoter to provide single stranded DNA template (termed "first
strand"). The second DNA strand is polymerized using a DNA
polymerase. After synthesis of double-stranded cDNA, T7 RNA
polymerase is added and RNA is transcribed from the cDNA template.
Successive rounds of transcription from each single cDNA template
results in amplified RNA.
[0229] Methods of in vitro polymerization are well known to those
of skill in the art (see, for example, Sambrook, supra; Van Gelder
et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87:1663-1667, 1990). The
direct transcription method provides an antisense (aRNA) pool.
Where antisense RNA is used as the target nucleic acid, the
oligonucleotide probes provided in the array are chosen to be
complementary to subsequences of the antisense nucleic acids.
Conversely, where the target nucleic acid pool is a pool of sense
nucleic acids, the oligonucleotide probes are selected to be
complementary to subsequences of the sense nucleic acids. Finally,
where the nucleic acid pool is double stranded, the probes may be
of either sense as the target nucleic acids include both sense and
antisense strands.
[0230] In one embodiment, the hybridized nucleic acids are detected
by detecting one or more labels attached to the sample nucleic
acids. The labels can be incorporated by any of a number of
methods. In one example, the label is simultaneously incorporated
during the amplification step in the preparation of the sample
nucleic acids. Thus, for example, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
with labeled primers or labeled nucleotides will provide a labeled
amplification product. In one embodiment, transcription
amplification, as described above, using a labeled nucleotide (such
as fluorescein-labeled UTP and/or CTP) incorporates a label into
the transcribed nucleic acids. In some embodiments, a multiplex PCR
assay is utilized. The assay can be a multiplex assay.
[0231] An exemplary assay for assessing expression of gene
expression is shown in FIG. 27. In this assay, a first probe
specific to a first gene of interest is attached to a first
detectable bead. Addition probes can be included in the assay, such
that it is a multiplex assay. Thus, the assay an include a second
probe specific to a second gene of interest attached to a second
detectable label, a third probe specific to a third gene of
interest attached to a third detectable label, etc. In some
embodiments a single well can include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,
27, 28, 29, or 30 probes, each specific to a different gene of
interest, and each attached to a unique detectable label. In this
manner, the expression of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,
or 30 genes can be evaluate in each assay. Exemplary probes are
shown in FIG. 27B.
[0232] Alternatively, a label may be added directly to the original
nucleic acid sample (such as mRNA, polyA mRNA, cDNA, etc.) or to
the amplification product after the amplification is completed.
Means of attaching labels to nucleic acids are well known to those
of skill in the art and include, for example, nick translation or
end-labeling (e.g. with a labeled RNA) by kinasing of the nucleic
acid and subsequent attachment (ligation) of a nucleic acid linker
joining the sample nucleic acid to a label (e.g., a
fluorophore).
[0233] Detectable labels suitable for use include any composition
detectable by spectroscopic, photochemical, biochemical,
immunochemical, electrical, optical or chemical means. Useful
labels include biotin for staining with labeled streptavidin
conjugate, magnetic beads (for example DYNABEADS.TM.), fluorescent
dyes (for example, fluorescein, Texas red, rhodamine, green
fluorescent protein, and the like), radiolabels (for example,
.sup.3 H, .sup.125I, .sup.35S, .sup.14C, or .sup.32P), enzymes (for
example, horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase and others
commonly used in an ELISA), and colorimetric labels such as
colloidal gold or colored glass or plastic (for example,
polystyrene, polypropylene, latex, etc.) beads. Patents teaching
the use of such labels include U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,837; U.S. Pat.
No. 3,850,752; U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,350; U.S. Pat. No. 3,996,345;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,437; U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,149; and U.S. Pat. No.
4,366,241.
[0234] Means of detecting such labels are also well known. Thus,
for example, radiolabels may be detected using photographic film or
scintillation counters, fluorescent markers may be detected using a
photodetector to detect emitted light. Enzymatic labels are
typically detected by providing the enzyme with a substrate and
detecting the reaction product produced by the action of the enzyme
on the substrate, and colorimetric labels are detected by simply
visualizing the colored label.
[0235] The label may be added to the target (sample) nucleic
acid(s) prior to, or after, the hybridization. So-called "direct
labels" are detectable labels that are directly attached to or
incorporated into the target (sample) nucleic acid prior to
hybridization. In contrast, so-called "indirect labels" are joined
to the hybrid duplex after hybridization. Often, the indirect label
is attached to a binding moiety that has been attached to the
target nucleic acid prior to the hybridization. Thus, for example,
the target nucleic acid may be biotinylated before the
hybridization. After hybridization, an avidin-conjugated
fluorophore will bind the biotin bearing hybrid duplexes providing
a label that is easily detected (see Laboratory Techniques in
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Vol. 24: Hybridization With
Nucleic Acid Probes, P. Tijssen, ed. Elsevier, N. Y., 1993).
[0236] Nucleic acid hybridization simply involves providing a
denatured probe and target nucleic acid under conditions where the
probe and its complementary target can form stable hybrid duplexes
through complementary base pairing. The nucleic acids that do not
form hybrid duplexes are then washed away leaving the hybridized
nucleic acids to be detected, typically through detection of an
attached detectable label. It is generally recognized that nucleic
acids are denatured by increasing the temperature or decreasing the
salt concentration of the buffer containing the nucleic acids.
Under low stringency conditions (e.g., low temperature and/or high
salt) hybrid duplexes (e.g., DNA:DNA, RNA:RNA, or RNA:DNA) will
form even where the annealed sequences are not perfectly
complementary. Thus, specificity of hybridization is reduced at
lower stringency. Conversely, at higher stringency (e.g., higher
temperature or lower salt) successful hybridization requires fewer
mismatches.
[0237] One of skill in the art will appreciate that hybridization
conditions can be designed to provide different degrees of
stringency. In a one embodiment, hybridization is performed at low
stringency in this case in 6.times.SSPE-T at 37.degree. C. (0.005%
Triton X-100) to ensure hybridization and then subsequent washes
are performed at higher stringency (e.g., 1.times.SSPE-T at
37.degree. C.) to eliminate mismatched hybrid duplexes. Successive
washes may be performed at increasingly higher stringency (e.g.,
down to as low as 0.25.times.SSPE-T at 37.degree. C. to 50.degree.
C.) until a desired level of hybridization specificity is obtained.
Stringency can also be increased by addition of agents such as
formamide. Hybridization specificity may be evaluated by comparison
of hybridization to the test probes with hybridization to the
various controls that can be present (e.g., expression level
control, normalization control, mismatch controls, etc.).
[0238] In general, there is a tradeoff between hybridization
specificity (stringency) and signal intensity. Thus, in one
embodiment, the wash is performed at the highest stringency that
produces consistent results and that provides a signal intensity
greater than approximately 10% of the background intensity. Thus,
the hybridized array may be washed at successively higher
stringency solutions and read between each wash. Analysis of the
data sets thus produced will reveal a wash stringency above which
the hybridization pattern is not appreciably altered and which
provides adequate signal for the particular oligonucleotide probes
of interest. These steps have been standardized for commercially
available array systems.
[0239] Methods for evaluating the hybridization results vary with
the nature of the specific probe nucleic acids used as well as the
controls provided. In one embodiment, simple quantification of the
fluorescence intensity for each probe is determined. This is
accomplished simply by measuring probe signal strength at each
location (representing a different probe) on the array (for
example, where the label is a fluorescent label, detection of the
amount of florescence (intensity) produced by a fixed excitation
illumination at each location on the array). Comparison of the
absolute intensities of an array hybridized to nucleic acids from a
"test" sample (such as from a patient treated with a therapeutic
protocol) with intensities produced by a "control" sample (such as
from the same patient prior to treatment with the therapeutic
protocol) provides a measure of the relative expression of the
nucleic acids that hybridize to each of the probes.
[0240] Changes in expression detected by these methods for instance
can be different for different therapies, for example, and may
include increases or decreases in the level (amount) or functional
activity of such nucleic acids, their expression or translation
into protein, or in their localization or stability. An increase or
a decrease can be, for example, about a 1-fold, 2-fold, 3-fold,
4-fold, 5-fold, change (increase or decrease) in the expression of
a particular nucleic acid.
[0241] In some examples, the effectiveness of an agent, or the
production of RPE cells, or the identification of RPE cells, is
performed by applying isolated nucleic acid molecules to an array
in which the isolated nucleic acid molecules are obtained from a
biological sample including RPE cells, such as following treatment
with an agent of interest. In such example, the array includes
oligonucleotides complementary to the nucleic acids disclosed
above.
[0242] In an example, the isolated nucleic acid molecules are
incubated with the array including oligonucleotides complementary
to nucleic acid molecules disclosed above for a time sufficient to
allow hybridization between the isolated nucleic acid molecules and
oligonucleotide probes, thereby forming isolated nucleic acid
molecule:oligonucleotide complexes. The isolated nucleic acid
molecule:oligonucleotide complexes are then analyzed to determine
if expression of the isolated nucleic acid molecules is altered. In
such example, an agent is evaluated to see if it affects expression
of the molecule as compared to a control (such cells not contacted
with the agent) or reference value.
[0243] A gene expression profile is disclosed herein that can be
used to identify the effectiveness of an agent for producing RPE
cells, or for identifying an RPE cell. In an example, the gene
expression profile includes at least two of the molecules listed
above, such as at least 5, at least 7, at least 10, at least 20, at
least 30, at least 40, or all of the molecules that are listed. In
some examples, the gene expression profile includes at least 2, at
least 5, at least 7, at least 10, at least 20, at least 25, at
least 25, at least 30, at least 35 or at least 40 molecules (for
example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,
37, 38, 39, 40 or all 41 molecules). In one specific non-limiting
example, the gene expression profile includes of MITF, PAX6, LHX2,
TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3, TRPM1,
TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SILL MLANA,
RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5,
RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and
CFTR.
[0244] In additional embodiments, the gene expression profile
includes at least 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60,
65, 70, 80, 85, 90, 95 or all 96 of the miRNAs listed in Table 2.
In one specific, non-limiting example, the gene expression profile
includes miR204 and miR211. In further embodiments, the gene
expression profile includes at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40,
45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115,
120, 125, 130, 135, or all of the markers listed in Table 1 and
Table 2. This expression profile can be used to detect RPE cells,
and/or confirm that a cell is an RPE cell.
[0245] As an alternative to analyzing the sample for the presence
of nucleic acids, the presence of proteins can be determined.
Proteins can be detected by any method known in the art. In some
examples, proteins are purified prior to detection. For example,
the effect of an agent can be determined by incubating the cells,
such as iPSCs, embryoid bodies, or RPE cells with one or more
antibodies that specifically binds to one of the molecules listed
above, for an amount of time sufficient to form an immune complex,
in order to detect expression. The primary antibody can include a
detectable label. For example, the primary antibody can be directly
labeled, or the sample can be subsequently incubated with a
secondary antibody that is labeled (for example with a fluorescent
label). The label can then be detected, for example by microscopy,
ELISA, flow cytometery, or spectrophotometry. In another example,
the biological sample is analyzed by Western blotting for the
presence or absence of the specific molecule. In other examples,
the biological sample is analyzed by mass spectrometry for the
presence or absence of the specific molecule. In other examples, a
first antibody that specifically binds a molecule listed above is
unlabeled and a second antibody or other molecule that can
specifically binds the first antibody is labeled. As is well known
to one of skill in the art, a second antibody is chosen that is
able to specifically bind the specific species and class of the
first antibody. For example, if the first antibody is a human IgG,
then the secondary antibody can be an anti-human-IgG. Other
molecules that can bind to antibodies include, without limitation,
Protein A and Protein G, both of which are available commercially.
The secondary antibody is incubated with the cells for a sufficient
time to form an immune complex.
[0246] Suitable labels for the antibody or secondary antibody
include various enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials,
luminescent materials, magnetic agents and radioactive materials.
Non-limiting examples of suitable enzymes include horseradish
peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, or
acetylcholinesterase. Non-limiting examples of suitable prosthetic
group complexes include streptavidin/biotin and avidin/biotin.
Non-limiting examples of suitable fluorescent materials include
umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine,
dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride or
phycoerythrin. A non-limiting exemplary luminescent material is
luminol; a non-limiting exemplary magnetic agent is gadolinium, and
non-limiting exemplary radioactive labels include .sup.1251
.sup.131I, .sup.35S or .sup.3H.
[0247] In an alternative example, proteins can be assayed in a
biological sample by a competition immunoassay utilizing protein
standards (molecules) labeled with a detectable substance and
unlabeled antibody that specifically bind to the desired molecule.
In this assay, the cells, the labeled molecule standard and the
antibody that specifically binds to the molecule are combined and
the amount of labeled molecule standard bound to the unlabeled
antibody is determined. The amount of the molecule in the
biological sample is inversely proportional to the amount of
labeled molecule standard bound to the antibody that specifically
binds the molecule.
[0248] In yet other embodiments the resting potential of the cells
is assessed. In some embodiments, a resting potential of about -50
to about -60 mV, and a fluid transport rate of about 5 to about 10
.mu.l cm.sup.-2h.sup.-1 indicates that the cells is an RPE cell. In
additional embodiments, the production of cells that express MITF,
PAX6, LHX2, TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1, TIMP3,
TRPM1, TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SILL MLANA,
RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4, RDH5,
RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13, and
CFTR, express miR204 and miR211, and have a resting potential of
about -50 to about -60 mV. In certain embodiments, an increase in
the number of cells with these features, following contact with the
agent of interest, indicates that the agent increases the
proliferation and/or differentiation of RPE cells.
[0249] In additional embodiments, the fluid transport of the cells
is determined. Fluid transport of cells can be measured using a
capacitance probe. In some embodiments, cells grown as a monolayer
tissue are mounted in a modified Ussings chamber and probe that
measure capacitance is used. If the volume of fluid on either side
of the cell layer changes, capacitance of the probes changes. This
can be used to calculated the volume change and the fluid flow. In
some examples, a fluid transport rate of about 5 to about 15 .mu.l
cm.sup.-2h.sup.-1 such as a fluid transport rate of about 5 to
about 10 .mu.l cm.sup.-2h.sup.-1, indicates that the cell is an RPE
cell.
[0250] The ability of cells to reversibly increase fluid flow by
either ATP treatment of the apical side or IFN gamma treatment of
the basal side can be measured. Both of these responses can be
inhibited by inhibiting chloride channels on the basal side. These
properties can be used to determine that the cell as an RPE
cell.
[0251] In further examples, the polarization of the cell is
assessed. Thus, in some embodiments, selective CO.sub.2
permeability of the apical surface of RPE cells is measured.
Photoreceptors secrete high concentrations of CO.sub.2 towards the
apical surface (Adijanto et al., J Gen Physiol, 2009 June;
133(6):603-22). Therefore, this surface has been evolutionarily
selected to trap CO.sub.2. This function can be measured in vitro
by changing CO.sub.2 concentrations in the apical or the basal
baths of RPE cells, such as RPE cells growing in transwells. If the
RPE cells trap CO.sub.2, they respond by a reduction in pH, which
can be measured by a ratio-metric dye.
[0252] In one specific non-limiting example, a RPE monolayer grown
on a porous polyester membrane is incubated in Ringer solution
containing 8 .mu.M BCECF-AM. After incubation with BCECF-AM, the
tissue was incubated in control (5% CO.sub.2) Ringer for another 30
minutes before mounting in a modified Ussing chamber. The Ussing
chamber is mounted on the stage of an axiovert-200 microscope (Carl
Zeiss, Inc.) equipped with a 20.times. objective. The RPE is
continuously perfused with Ringer solution (equilibrated with 5%
CO.sub.2 at 36.5.degree. C.). Excitation photons (440/480 nm) are
generated by a xenon light source, and the specific wavelengths are
selected with a monochromator (Polychrome IV; Photonics). The
emission fluorescence signals are captured with a photomultiplier
tube (Thom EMI). pHi calibrations are performed by perfusing high-K
calibration solutions (at pH 6.8, 7.2, and 7.6) containing 20 .mu.M
nigericin into both solution baths.
[0253] In some embodiments, changes in the electric properties of
RPE cells can be measured. In some specific non-limiting examples,
RPE cells are grown as a monolayer on a porous polyester membrane.
Transepithelial potential is measured with a pair of calomel
electrodes in series with Ringer solution agar (4% wt/vol) bridges
placed in the apical and basal baths of the Ussing chamber. The TEP
recordings are moving averages of 3 seconds. The transepithelial
resistance was calculated from Ohm's law.
R T = .DELTA. TEP Area Current . ##EQU00001##
When light hits the photoreceptors in RPE cells, the photoreceptors
depolarize by closing potassium (K) channels (see, Miller set al.,
(ed). Encyclopedia of the eye, ELSEVIER). This reduces the
concentration of K-ions in between photoreceptors and RPE
(subretinal space) from 5 mM to 1 mM. RPE cells respond to this
changing concentration by hyperpolarizing and opening their K
channels to increase the subretinal K concentration back to 5 Mm. A
range of 1-5 mM indicates the cell is an RPE cell.
[0254] In further embodiments, the production of cells that express
MITF, PAX6, LHX2, TFEC, CDH1, CDH3, CLDN10, CLDN16, CLDN19, BEST1,
TIMP3, TRPM1, TRPM3, TTR, VEGFA, CSPG5, DCT, TYRP1, TYR, SILV, SILL
MLANA, RAB27A, OCA2, GPR143, GPNMB, MYO6, MYRIP, RPE65, RBP1, RBP4,
RDH5, RDH11, RLBP1, MERTK, ALDH1A3, FBLN1, SLC16A1, KCNV2, KCNJ13,
and CFTR, express miR204 and miR211, have a resting potential of
about -50 to about -60 mV, and have a fluid transport rate of about
5 to about 10 .mu.l cm.sup.-2h.sup.-1 i. In certain embodiments, an
increase in the number of cells with these features, following
contact with the agent of interest, indicates that the agent
increases the proliferation and/or differentiation of RPE
cells.
[0255] The disclosure is illustrated by the following non-limiting
Examples.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Exemplary Materials and Methods for Differentiation of Human
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSC) into Retinal Pigment
Epithelial Cells (RPE)
[0256] Maintaining and Passaging hiPSC
[0257] Grow hiPSC on g-irradiated mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs)
in human embryonic stem (hES) media+basic Fibroblast Growth Factor
(bFGF-added fresh).
[0258] Feed hiPSC daily with hES media+bFGF (added fresh) to a
final concentration of 10 ng/m1-1.5 ml/well of P6.
[0259] When hiPSC colonies are 80% confluent, split them (1:6) onto
new MEFs for continued passage (eg. six wells of a P6 plate
expanded into six-P6 plates)
[0260] Aspirate hES media
[0261] Wash 1.times. with PBS
[0262] Add 1 ml CTK and place in +37 C incubator for 10 min (time
varies with iPSC line)
[0263] Aspirate CTK (make sure colonies are still adhered to the
plate)
[0264] Add 2 ml PBS without Ca/Mg and place in +37 C incubator for
5 min
[0265] Aspirate PBS and add another 2 ml of PBS and place in +37 C
incubator for 5 min
[0266] Aspirate PBS (MEFs are preferentially lifted in the PBS)
Add 1 ml of hES media+(10 ng/ml) bFGF (added fresh)+(10 uM) Rock
Inhibitor (RI) (added fresh) to each well of P6
[0267] Using a 1 ml pipetman, gently pipet up and down to remove
colonies from plate (try not to generate single cells); transfer
cells to a clean tube; add another 1 ml hES media+bFGF+RI to each
well, turn plate, and pipet up and down to loosen remaining
colonies; transfer cells to same tube; add the appropriate volume
of hES+bFGF+RI media to cells (6-P6 plates will require 54 mls)
[0268] Aspirate Feeder media from MEF plates
[0269] Distribute 1.5 mls cells/well of P6
(Reh et al., 2010, Methods Mol. Biol.; Takahashi et al., 2001 PLoS
One)
[0270] When hiPSC colonies are 70% confluent, prepare embryoid
bodies (EBs)
[0271] Aspirate hES media
[0272] Wash 1.times. with PBS
[0273] Add lml of 1 mg/ml collagenase/well of P6 and put in +37 C
incubator for 15 min
[0274] Aspirate collagenase and add 1 ml DMEM
[0275] Scrape colonies gently with cell lifter (Corning#3008) being
careful not to break the colonies into single cells
[0276] Transfer contents of all 6 wells to a 15 ml conical tube
with a lml pipetman
[0277] Add another 1 ml of DMEM to each well, turn the plate
around, and gently scrape the remaining colonies with the cell
lifter; transfer contents of all 6 wells to the same tube
(.about.12 ml DMEM/tube).
[0278] Let the cell aggregates settle to the bottom of the tube
(.about.2-5 min or until the media is clear).
[0279] Aspirate the supernatant (contains the single cell and MEFs)
and wash the cell aggregate with 10 ml DMEM; pipet up and down with
10 ml pipet 3-5 times to break up aggregates-if they are too big
(will depend on size of starting iPSC colony); break them into
smaller clumps. Smaller cell clumps that contain between 200-500
cells make RPE with a higher efficiency, as compared to larger
clumps. Larger clumps when plated make 3-dimensional structures
that do not form RPE at a high efficiency.
[0280] Let the cell aggregates settle to the bottom of the 15 ml
conical tube.
[0281] Aspirate the supernatant and resuspend the cell aggregate in
desired volume of Retinal Induction Medium (RIM)+Rock inhibitor (10
uM) (usually 8 ml of RIM/15 ml conical tube). Reduction of the
amount of knockout serum replacement (KSR) from 10% to 1.5%
increased RPE differentiation efficiency.
[0282] Transfer aggregates in RIM+RI to a low attachment dish
(Corning#326210 cm low attachment plate) where they will form EBs
within 24 hours
[0283] 48 hours later, evenly distribute EBs onto plates coated
with MATRIGEL.RTM.. 150-250 EBs/well of a 6-well plate
differentiate into RPE with a higher efficiency as compared to more
than 250 EBs/well. Higher number of EBs makes too confluent
cultures and cells do not differentiate into RPE at a high
efficiency.
[0284] Transfer EBs to 15 ml conical tube and let settle
(.about.2-5 min)
[0285] Aspirate supernatant.
[0286] Add appropriate volume of Retinal Differentiation Media
(RDM) to EBs.
[0287] Aspirate the matrigel from each well and wash 1.times. with
PBS.
[0288] Distribute equal amount of EBs to each matrigel-coated well
and swirl plate to achieve an even distribution of EBs on the
well's surface (usually EBs from 1-well of a P6-plate can be plated
into 2-wells of a P6-plate).
Change media every other day for 3 weeks (eg. Mon, Wed, Fri) This
protocol significantly increased the expression of genes
responsible for RPE fate induction and have increased the
efficiency of RPE differentiation. The elements of tis protocol are
a reduced conc. of KSR (1.5%), no FGF, addition of DKK1 (100
ng/m1), and PD 0325901 (0.1 uM), using NOGGIN at 50 ng/ml
Inhibition of both WNT (by DKK1) and BMP (by NOGGIN) pathways
promotes rostral neuroectoderm formation, which can also make eye
cells Inhibition of FGF signaling (by PD 0325901) suppressed
retinal fate and induces RPE fate from rostralized
neuroectoderm.
[0289] Transfer cells to Retinal Media (RM) plus Nicotinamide,
Activin, and Wnt3a (NAW). Change media every other day (eg. Mon,
Wed, and Fri) for 3 weeks.
[0290] Addition of WNT3a has also significantly increased the RPE
differentiation efficiency. Activation of canonical WNT signaling
increases the expression of MITF and PAX6, two RPE inducing
transcription factors and thus increases RPE differentiation
efficiency.
[0291] Transfer cells to 5% Retinal Pigmented Epithelial (RPE)
Media containing WNT5a (100 ng/m1), DKK1 (100 ng/m1), SU5402 (10
uM), CYCLOPAMINE (5 uM). WNT5a and DKK1 inhibit canonical WNT
signaling, thereby reducing PAX6 and MITF expression and maturing
RPE cells. SU5402 inhibits FGF signaling and CYCLOPAMINE inhibits
Sonic signaling. Both FGF and Sonic signaling are associated with
retinal induction. Therefore, inhibiting these pathways promotes
RPE differentiation. Change media every other day (for example:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Within a week or two several
pigmented colonies appear. At this point, cells can be seeded onto
transwells in 5% RPE medium for functional analysis.
[0292] Cells are maintained for 8 weeks onto these transwells,
where they continue to mature. At 8 weeks fully functional and
polarized monolayers of cells on transwells are harvested for the
expression of RPE-signature genes and miRNAs. Gene expression is
measured using qRT-PCR assays.
To Prepare MEF Plates:
[0293] Coat 4-P6 plates with 0.1% gelatin and let sit at room temp
for at least 15 min
[0294] Thaw 1 vial of MEFs (Mt. Sinai Stem Cell #GSC-6001G; 5
million cells/vial) and resuspend in 9 ml Feeder Cell Media
[0295] Spin cells 1.2K for 5 min; aspirate supernatant and
resuspend pellet in 36 ml Feeder Cell Media
[0296] Aspirate gelatin from wells and distribute 1.5 ml MEFs/well
of P6
[0297] .about.MEFs are good for 2 weeks and do not have to change
media
To Prepare MATRIGEL.RTM. Plates:
[0298] Let matrigel (BD #356230) thaw overnight on ice at +4 C.
[0299] Add equal volume of DMEM to thawed matrigel on ice the next
day and mix well.
[0300] Incubate overnight on fresh ice at +4 C.
[0301] Mix the next day and aliquot 0.4 ml/eppendorf tube (=1:2)
and freeze at -80 C.
[0302] Thaw a tube of diluted (1:2) matrigel on ice (or let it thaw
over-night at +4 C); keep the aliquots on ice while working with
them.
[0303] Dilute the matrigel 1:25 in cold DMEM media (10 ml media+0.4
ml MATRIGEL.RTM. (1:2)).
[0304] To coat a tissue culture plate, place matrigel on the dish
and shake to distribute evenly (for example 1 ml/well of a P6).
[0305] Let the plate sit at room temperature for 1 h to overnight
with very gentle shaking; chill the plates at +4 C before use.
[0306] If the plates are not used immediately, wrap them in foil
and keep at +4 C for 1-2 days.
Reagents
TABLE-US-00006 [0307] Feeder Cell Media (500 ml) DMEM (High
Glucose) (Invitrogen #11960-077) 435 ml Heat-Inactivated Fetal
Bovine Serum (FBS) 50 ml (Invitrogen #10082147) Pen/Strep (Gibco
#15140) 5 ml Glutamine (200 mM) (Gibco #25030) 5 ml Na Pyruvate
(100 mM) (Gibco #11360) 5 ml
Filter Media
TABLE-US-00007 [0308] hES Media (500 ml) DMEM/F12 (1:1) (Invitrogen
#11320-033) 385 ml Knockout Serum Replacement (Invitrogen
#10828-028) 100 ml Non-Essential Amino Acids (Gibco #11140) 5 ml
Pen/Strep (Gibco #15140) 5 ml Glutamine (200 mM) (Gibco #25030) 5
ml b-Mercaptoethanol (55 mM in PBS) (Gibco #21985) 0.5 ml
Filter Media.
[0309] Add bFGF (RD Systems#233-FB; final concentration of 10
ng/ml; make 10 ug/ml stock and dilute 1:1000 in hES) to hES media
immediately before use. When passaging hiPSC, also add RI to hES
media immediately before use.
CTK:
[0310] 5 ml 0.25% Trypsin+5 ml lmg/ml collagenase IV+0.5 ml 0.1M
CaC12+10 ml KSR (knockout serum)+30 ml DMEM-F12, store @-20 C Rock
inhibitor from EMD In solution Y27632 cat #688001-10 mM stock
solution
TABLE-US-00008 Retinal Induction Medium (RIM) (500 ml) DMEM/F12
(1:1) (Invitrogen #11320-033) 500 ml Knockout Serum Replacement
(Invitrogen #10828-028) 7.5 ml Non-Essential Amino Acids (Gibco
#11140) 5 ml Pen/Strep (Gibco #15140) 5 ml Sodium Pyruvate (100 mM)
(Gibco #11360) 5 ml N2 Supplement 1x (Gibco #17502-048) 5 ml B27
Supplement 1x (Gibco #17504-044) 10 ml CK1-7 Dihydrochloride (5 mM)
(Sigma #C0742) 50 ul SB 431542 hydrate (5 mM) (Sigma #S4317) 50 ul
Noggin (250 ug/ml) (RD Systems #6057-NG) 2 ul IGF-1 (100 ug/ml) (RD
Systems #291-G1) 5 ul Ascorbic Acid (5 mg/ml) (Sigma #A4544-25G) 5
ml
TABLE-US-00009 Retinal Differentiation Medium (RDM) (500 ml)
DMEM/F12 (1:1) (Invitrogen #11320-033) 500 ml Knockout Serum
Replacement (Invitrogen #10828-028) 7.5 ml Non-Essential Amino
Acids (Gibco #11140) 5 ml Pen/Strep (Gibco #15140) 5 ml Sodium
Pyruvate (100 mM) (Gibco #11360) 5 ml N2 Supplement 1x (Gibco
#17502-048) 5 ml B27 Supplement 1x (Gibco #17504-044) 10 ml CK1-7
(5 mM) (Sigma #C0742) 0.5 ml DKK1 (100 ug/ml) (R&D Systems) 0.5
ml SB-431542 (5 mM) (Sigma #S4317) 0.5 ml Noggin (250 ug/ml) (RD
Systems #6057-NG) 0.1 ml IGF-1(100 ug/ml) (RD Systems #291-G1) 50
ul Ascorbic Acid (5 mg/ml) (Sigma #A4544-25G) 5 ml PD 0325901 (1
mM) (Tocris #4192) 0.5 ml NO FGF
TABLE-US-00010 Retinal Medium (RM) + Nicotinamide, Activin, and
Wnt3a (NAW) (500 ml) DMEM/F12 (1:1) (Invitrogen #11320-033) 500 ml
Knock out Serum Replacement (Invitrogen #10828-028) 50 ml
Non-Essential Amino Acids (Gibco #11140) 5 ml Pen/Strep (Gibco
#15140) 5 ml Sodium Pyruvate (100 mM) (Gibco #11360) 5 ml N2
Supplement 1x (Gibco #17502-048) 5 ml B27 Supplement 1x (Gibco
#17504-044) 10 ml Nicotinamide (Sigma #N0636) (1M) 5 ml Activin (RD
Systems #338-AC) (50 ug/ml) 1.5 ml Wnt3a (RD Systems #5036-WN) (200
ug/ml) 250 ul
Rock inhibitor from EMD In solution Y27632 cat #688001
TABLE-US-00011 5% Retinal Pigmented Epithelial (RPE) Media
MEM_modified (M-4526) 500 ml N1 supplement (N-6530) 5 ml Glutamax,
Penicillin-streptomycin (G-1146) 5 ml Non essential amino acids
(M-7145) 5 ml Taurine (T-0625) 125 mg Hydrocortisone (H-0396) 10 ug
Triiodo-thyronin (T-5516) 0.0065 ug Fetal bovine serum, heat
inactivated 1% or 5% or 15%
The use of different amounts of Knockout Serum Replacement (KOSR)
in the media used for the first three weeks of the differentiation
protocol was assessed. Retinal differentiation media (RDM), showed
differential effects on cell pigmentation. iPSC were incubated in
high KOSR (10%) resulted in a smaller number of pigmented cells
compared to the use of lesser amounts of KOSR (1.5%). After culture
in 10, 5.25, or 1.5% KOSR, the cells were shifted to NAW containing
1.5% KOSR for 3 weeks and photographed at 16 weeks (see FIG. 34A
and FIG. 34B).
Example 2
Reporter iPSC Cell Lines
[0311] To optimize the protocol for iPSC to RPE differentiation, a
reporter iPSC line was created. This reporter line constitutively
expresses a red fluorescent protein, whose expression is controlled
by ubiquitin gene promoter. The reporter iPSC line also expresses a
green fluorescent protein (GFP), specifically when differentiated
in to RPE lineage (FIG. 1-3). The RPE-specific enhancer of the gene
Tyrosinase controls GFP expression in this iPSC line (FIG. 1). The
first goal was to confirm that the GFP expression truly represents
RPE lineage. To achieve this, iPSC line were differentiated using
published differentiation protocols and characterized those
differentiated cells using molecular and physiological assays.
These assays are disclosed in FIGS. 22-24. FIG. 2 describes a
simple schematic drawing of iPSC-RPE differentiation. When the
reporter iPSC were differentiated into RPE, approximately 28 days
into differentiation, GFP positive cells are present (FIG. 3A).
These cells go on to form an epithelial monolayer with
characteristic polygonal RPE morphology and continue to express GFP
(FIG. 3B). GFP positive and negative cells were sorted by flow
cytometry and the expression of several RPE-specific genes was
analyzed, shown in FIG. 4. The results show that GFP positive cells
express RPE-specific markers at much higher levels as compared to
GFP negative cells from the same dish.
[0312] Next, sorted GFP positive and negative cells were re-plated
onto new dishes. GFP negative cells grow to form very few pigmented
colonies (FIG. 5A). In comparison, GFP positive cells develop in to
pure, fully confluent RPE monolayers (FIG. 5B). This confirmed that
the GFP expression truly represents RPE-fate in these cells and
demonstrated that GFP signal can be used as a reliable indicator of
RPE differentiation. To optimize differentiation of RPE from iPSCs,
a reference protocol was established (see Idelson et al. (2009),
Cell Stem Ce115, 396-408; Meyer et al. (2009),
Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA106, 16698-16703; Osakada et al. (2009),
J.CellSci.122, 3169-3179. The protocol was divided into four
stages--induction of differentiation, differentiation into
eye-field/optic vesicle cells, induction of RPE differentiation,
and maturation of RPE cells.
Example 3
Induction of Differentiation
[0313] To induce differentiation of iPSCs, the colonies were lifted
by a mild collagenase treatment (1 mg/ml for 15 minutes) and
dissociated into small cell aggregates. These aggregates were
cultured in RIM medium for 48 hours in non-adherent culture
conditions. Within 24 hours, the cell aggregates change into
embryoid bodies (EBs). It was determined whether the size of EBs
(number of cells/EB) affects RPE differentiation and found that
relatively smaller EBS with 200-400 cells/EB efficiently
differentiate into RPE as compared to larger EBs (FIG. 6).
TABLE-US-00012 Retinal Induction Medium (RIM) (500 ml) DMEM/F12
(1:1) (Invitrogen #11320-033) 500 ml Knockout Serum Replacement
(Invitrogen #10828-028) 7.5 ml Non-Essential Amino Acids (Gibco
#11140) 5 ml Pen/Strep (Gibco #15140) 5 ml Sodium Pyruvate (100 mM)
(Gibco #11360) 5 ml N2 Supplement 1x (Gibco #17502-048) 5 ml B27
Supplement 1x (Gibco #17504-044) 10 ml CK1-7 Dihydrochloride (5 mM)
(Sigma #C0742) 50 ul SB 431542 hydrate (5 mM) (Sigma #S4317) 50 ul
Noggin (250 ug/ml) (RD Systems #6057-NG) 2 ul IGF-1 (100 ug/ml) (RD
Systems #291-G1) 5 ul Ascorbic Acid (5 mg/ml) (Sigma #A4544-25G) 5
ml
Example 4
Differentiation into Eye-Field/Optic Vesicle Cells
[0314] After 48 hours of floating EB cultures they are plated onto
MATRIGEL.RTM. coated plates in RDM medium. It was investigated
whether the number of EBs plated/well affects differentiation of
iPSCs into RPE. The results showed that ideal differentiation
efficiency is achieved by plating 150-250EBs/well of a standard
6-well tissue culture plate (FIG. 7). RDM medium was used for 3
weeks with change of medium on cells every Monday, Wednesday, and
Friday Inhibition of Nodal, BMP, and WNT pathways can be important
for differentiation of stem cells into eye-field cells. To inhibit
the nodal pathway, the inhibitor SB431542 was used. To inhibit the
activity of BMP pathway, various concentrations of Noggin, a BMP
inhibitor, were tested. For WNT pathway inhibition, a combination
of biological Wnt inhibitor DKK1 and a small molecule inhibitor of
the WNT pathway CK1-7 were used.
[0315] Results have shown that inhibition of FGF signaling is
important for RPE development. Therefore, the activity of FGF
signaling pathway was modulated by either changing its
concentration or/and by adding FGF inhibitor (PD 0325901) to the
medium. The results were scored weekly by quantitative gene
expression measurements of two transcription factors Pax6 and Mitf
which are the master regulators of RPE differentiation (FIGS.
8-13). In addition, GFP expression was scored after six weeks as a
direct measure of induction of RPE cells (FIG. 14).
[0316] The results showed that dual inhibition of WNT pathway,
inhibition of FGF pathway, and use of 50 ng/ml of Noggin
significantly and progressively improve the expression of Pax6 and
Mitf during the three weeks, suggesting that the cells have
attained optic vesicle identity by the end of the third week. The
GFP signal measured at the end of normal RPE differentiation
confirms that these treatments significantly improve RPE
differentiation from iPSCs.
[0317] Next, the effect of the concentration of knockout serum
replacement (KSR) on RPE differentiation was tested. Reducing KSR
to 1.5% increased the number of pigmented RPE cells when
differentiated from the RPE (FIG. 15).
TABLE-US-00013 Retinal Differentiation Medium (RDM) (500 ml)
DMEM/F12 (1:1) (Invitrogen #11320-033) 500 ml Knockout Serum
Replacement (Invitrogen #10828-028) 7.5 ml Non-Essential Amino
Acids (Gibco #11140) 5 ml Pen/Strep (Gibco #15140) 5 ml Sodium
Pyruvate (100 mM) (Gibco #11360) 5 ml N2 Supplement 1x (Gibco
#17502-048) 5 ml B27 Supplement 1x (Gibco #17504-044) 10 ml CK1-7
(5 mM) (Sigma #C0742) 0.5 ml DKK1 (100 ug/ml) (R&D Systems) 0.5
ml SB-431542 (5 mM) (Sigma #S4317) 0.5 ml Noggin (250 ug/ml) (RD
Systems #6057-NG) 0.1 ml IGF-1 (100 ug/ml) (RD Systems #291-G1) 50
ul Ascorbic Acid (5 mg/ml) (Sigma #A4544-25G) 5 ml PD 0325901 (1
mM) (Tocris #4192) 0.5 ml NO FGF
Example 5
Induction of RPE Differentiation
[0318] Activin A induces RPE differentiation from ES cells. In
animal models, canonical WNT (WNT3a) is important for RPE
differentiation. It was hypothesized that a combination of activin
A and WNT3a would be effective for the induction of RPE
differentiation from iPSCs. A combination of these two factors was
tested at the optic vesicle stage. Cells were moved from the RDM
medium to medium containing either activin A (NA) only or activin A
plus WNT3a (NAW). The addition of WNT3a significantly increased the
number of pigmented cells per dish (FIG. 16). Because this
differentiation process was started with the reporter iPSC lines,
the increase in the number of RPE cell was confirmed by comparing
the GFP signal between the two treatments. As compared to NA, NAW
increased the number of GFP positive cells in the culture (FIG. 17,
top panel). When quantified by FACS analysis, NA treatment produced
only 22% GFP positive cells, whereas NAW treatment produced 52% GFP
positive cells (FIG. 17, bottom panel). This result showed that WNT
signaling synergistically enhances RPE differentiation capacity of
TGF-beta (activin) signaling.
TABLE-US-00014 Retinal Medium (RM) + Nicotinamide, Activin, and
Wnt3a (NAW) (500 ml) DMEM/F12 (1:1) (Invitrogen #11320-033) 500 ml
Knock out Serum Replacement (Invitrogen #10828-028) 7.5 ml
Non-Essential Amino Acids (Gibco #11140) 5 ml Pen/Strep (Gibco
#15140) 5 ml Sodium Pyruvate (100 mM) (Gibco #11360) 5 ml N2
Supplement 1x (Gibco #17502-048) 5 ml B27 Supplement 1x (Gibco
#17504-044) 10 ml Nicotinamide (Sigma #N0636) (1M) 5 ml Activin (RD
Systems #338-AC) (50 ug/ml) 1.5 ml Wnt3a (RD Systems #5036-WN) (200
ug/ml) 250 ul
Example 6
Maturation of RPE Cells
[0319] To further purify and mature RPE cells, these cells were
trypsinized and cultured in 5% RPE medium for 4 weeks on
semipermeable transwells. This produced cells which looked quite
homogenous in terms of RPE pigment (FIG. 18, top panel).
Quantification of the GFP signal by FACS analysis produced up to
92% GFP positive cells in cultures that have grown for 4 weeks.
This suggests that the 5% RPE medium enriches for RPE cells. When
these cells were cultured for longer durations, NAW treated cells
looked more homogenous in terms of RPE pigment, RPE morphology, and
GFP expression as compared to NA treated cells (FIG. 19, FIG. 20
only for NAW cells). However, these cells continue to express fetal
specific RPE genes such as Pax6, Sox2, Tfec etc.
[0320] Differentiating RPE cells start producing canonical WNT that
can affect the maturity of RPE cells. Therefore, to generate RPE
cells that are fully mature and stop expressing fetal genes, these
cultures were treated with inhibitors of canonical WNT pathway.
WNT5a and DKK1, which together inhibit canonical WNT pathway and
induce non-canonical WNT pathway, were used in these studies. The
later has been shown to induce cell polarization and maturity. In
addition, inhibitors of FGF (SU54052) and Sonic hedgehog
(Cyclopamine) pathways were used to suppress any endogenous FGF and
Sonic signaling, which may affect RPE maturity. These inhibitors
were used for 2 weeks and the cells were assayed immediately after
the treatment. The expression of several fetal RPE and mature RPE
specific genes were measured (FIG. 21). Interestingly, these
treatments down-regulated the expression of fetal RPE specific
genes (Pax6, Sox2, Tfec, Klf4, Snail1/2) and up-regulated the
expression of RPE maturity associated genes (TYR, TYRP1, MYRIP,
Cadherin 1/3, TRPM1/3).
[0321] In conclusion, a protocol was developed that significantly
improves iPSC to RPE differentiation and also generates cells that
are fully differentiated. This protocol is extremely valuable to
produce RPE cells from iPSCs that can serve appropriate disease
models and an effective cell-based therapy.
TABLE-US-00015 5% Retinal Pigmented Epithelial (RPE) Media
MEM_modified (M-4526) 500 ml N1 supplement (N-6530) 5 ml Glutamax,
Penicillin-streptomycin (G-1146) 5 ml Non essential amino acids
(M-7145) 5 ml Taurine (T-0625) 125 mg Hydrocortisone (H-0396) 10 ug
Triiodo-thyronin (T-5516) 0.0065 ug Fetal bovine serum, heat
inactivated 5% DKK1 (100 ug/ml) (R&D Systems) 0.5 ml Wnt5a (RD
Systems) (100 ug/ml) 250 ul SU5402 (sigma) (10 uM) 0.5 ml
Cyclopamine (Sigma) (10 uM) 0.5 ml
Example 7
Authentication of iPSC-Derived RPE Cells
[0322] To authenticate the cells obtained through this protocol,
the cells were tested by both molecular and physiological assays. A
set of signature genes was selected from a previously published
RPE-gene signature (Strunnikova et al. (2010), Hum.Mol.Genet.19:
2468-2486) and the expression of those genes was compared between
primary human RPE and RPE obtained from iPSCs using our protocol.
The resulting cells closely resemble the primary human RPE in terms
of the expression of RPE-specific genes (FIG. 22).
[0323] Similarly, the ability of iPSC-derived RPE to respond to
changing CO.sub.2 concentrations in the apical and basal baths, and
their ability to hyerpolarize in response to changing potassium
concentrations in the apical bath was assessed (FIG. 23, 24). In
all these assays, iPSC-derived RPE cells behave similar to primary
human RPE. Thus, the disclosed protocol produces RPE cells that are
fully functional. These molecular and physiological assays are
important biomarkers for complete RPE differentiation.
Example 8
Multiplex High Throughput Screening
[0324] A multiplex high-throughput screening approach was developed
that simultaneously detects endogenous expression of multiple
developmental, functional, and disease markers in iPSC-derived
retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Protocols were optimized for
differentiation and growth of iPSC-derived RPE for high-throughput
screening in 96-well and 384-well formats. As a proof of principle,
the endogenous expression of ten genes in iPSCs, iPSC-derived RPE
at two differentiation stages, and primary human RPE cells were
compared using the multiplex assay. Data obtained from the assay
are significantly correlated with standard qRT-PCR based
measurements. This assay provides the basis to screen for compounds
that improve RPE function, maturation, and target disease pathways
thus providing the basis for effective treatments of several
retinal degenerative diseases.
[0325] Protocols were developed to use fully-authenticated
iPSC-derived RPE for a multiplex high-throughput assay. This
multiplex gene expression assay reports on six RPE lineage genes,
two stem/progenitor cell genes, and two house-keeping genes. Proof
of principle data was obtained that 1) the assay can be performed
in 96-well and 384-well high-throughput modes, 2) the assay is able
to measure even subtle change in gene expression, 3) the data
obtained with the multiplex assay is highly correlated with RT-qPCR
data. This assay allows identification of small molecules that can
further enhance the efficiency of the differentiation protocols
toward fully mature RPE cells. In addition, it provides
developmental and functional biomarkers that can be tracked in a
high-throughput mode. Small molecules that modulate the expression
of these functional and disease biomarkers can provide potential
therapeutic drugs for RPE-associated retinal degenerative
diseases.
A. Materials and Methods
[0326] iPSC Derivation, Culture, and Differentiation:
[0327] Human adult dermal fibroblasts (AG9309, female, 21 years
old, toe biopsy) purchased from Coriell (Camden, N.J.) were
reprogrammed (15). iPSC were differentiated into three germ layers
or into RPE (12, 15-17).
[0328] Immunostaining, Electron Microscopy, and qRT-PCR
Analysis:
[0329] Immunostaining and qRT-PCR analysis was performed (Green et
al., Nature biotechnology 29(3):267-272, 2011; Bharti et al., PLoS
Genet 8(7):e1002757, 2012). Following antibodies were used:
ALEXAFLUOR.RTM. 488-anti Tra-1-60 (1:50, BD Biosciences);
ALEXAFLUOR.RTM. 488-anti SSEA4 (1:50, BD Biosciences); OCT4 (1:400,
Cell Signaling, Danvers, Mass.); NANOG (1:100, R&D Systems);
SOX2 (1:100, Santa Cruz, Dallas, Tex.); KLF4 (1:50, Santa Cruz);
c-MYC (1:50, Santa Cruz); AFP (1:75, Thermo Scientific, Waltham,
Mass.); TUJ1 (1:400, Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.,
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com); aSMA (1:500, Thermo Scientific); DCT
(1:100, Bioworld antibodies, Mt. Airy); PAX6 (1:200, Covance
Chantilly, Va.); and ZO1 (1:100 Life Technologies).
[0330] Intracellular Calcium Measurements and
Electrophysiology:
[0331] To assess calcium signaling in the RPE cells: ATP (200
.mu.M; Sigma) and Cyclopiazonic Acid (CPA; 10 .mu.M; EMD
Millipore); (see Maminishkis et al., Invest. Ophthal. Vis. Sci.
47(8):3612-3624, 2006); Quinn et al., Invest. Ophthal. Vis. Sci.
33(13):3513-3527, 1992).
[0332] Calomel electrodes in series with Ringer solutions and agar
bridges were used to measure the transepithelial potential (TEP).
The signals from intracellular microelectrodes were referenced to
the basal bath to measure the apical and basal membrane potentials,
V.sub.A and V.sub.B, where TEP=V.sub.B-V.sub.A. The total
transepithelial resistance (R.sub.t), and the ratio of the apical
to basolateral membrane resistance (R.sub.A/R.sub.B) were obtained
by passing 2-4 .mu.A current pulses (peak to peak) across the
tissue and measuring the resultant changes in TEP, V.sub.A and
V.sub.B. See Maminishkis et al. supra and Quinn et al., supra for
details.
[0333] Principle of QUANTIGENE PLEX.RTM. Technology:
[0334] Cells grown in 96-well or 384-well plates are lysed and the
lysate transferred to a hybridization plate containing QUANTIGENE
PLEX.RTM. probe and LUMINEX.RTM. beads sets. Each bead type is
coated with a different single strand DNA Capture Probe (CP). Other
components of the QUANTIGENE.RTM. Probe set that are also comprised
of ssDNA oligos include Capture Extenders (CE), Label Extenders
(LE) and Blocking Probes (BP). Part of CE oligos is complementary
to the target mRNA (cover 200-600 bases) and part to CP bound on
LUMINEX.RTM. beads. This interaction facilitates capture of
specific target mRNAs to specific LUMINEX.RTM. beads. LE include
target mRNA specific sequences and a binding site for the
preamplifier, the first component used for signal amplification. BP
bind to any sequences on the target mRNA that are not bound by the
CE and LE. A typical probe set for a single target mRNA consists of
a family of four or more different CE and LE that usually cover
about 500 bases within the target mRNA. After washing off excess
probes and remaining cell lysate the signal amplification reagents
consisting of the Preamplifier (PreAmp), Amplifiers (Amp), and
Label Probes (LP) are sequentially hybridized to the mRNAs. The LP
also includes a biotin molecule, which in turn is a binding site
for the final signal amplification reagent, SAPE
(Streptavidin-conjugated R-Phycoerythrin). Each Amplifier binds up
to 400 SAPE. The resulting fluorescence signal associated with
individual Capture Beads is read on a LUMINEX.RTM. instrument.
Signal is reported as median fluorescence intensity (MFI) and is
proportional to the number of target RNA molecules present in the
sample. MFI is calculated by measuring signals on 50-100
beads/gene. MFI values obtained from background blank wells with no
target RNA were subtracted from MFI of each target reading.
[0335] QUANTIGENE PLEX.RTM. 2.0 Reagent System: 96-well Assay
Protocol:
[0336] The QUANTIGENE PLEX.RTM. 96-well Assay was done as described
in the manufacturer's manual (QUANTIGENE PLEX.RTM. 2.0 Assay,
Affymetrix, Santa Clara, Calif.). 25,000 and 50,000 cells are
seeded per well and cultured for 14 days at 37.degree. C., 5%
CO.sub.2. Cells were lysed in 200 .mu.L working lysis mixture for
30 minutes at 50.degree. C. 80 .mu.L of cell lysate were
transferred to the assay's hybridization plate (96-well clear
polypropylene plate Abgene #AB0796, Pittsburgh, Pa.), where each
well already contained 20 .mu.L Working Bead Mix (6.6 .mu.L Lysis
Mixture, 5.2 .mu.L nuclease free water, 0.2 .mu.L Proteinase K
solution, 2 .mu.L Blocking Reagent, 5 .mu.L Probe Set, 1 .mu.L
magnetic LUMINEX.RTM. beads; QUANTIGENE PLEX.RTM.Set--Panel
#11828). Hybridization was done for 18-22 hours at 54.degree.
C..+-.1.degree. C., shaking 600 rpm. The hybridization mixtures
were then transferred to a 96 well Magnetic Separation Plate
(96-well flat bottom microplate Nunc #269620). An Affymetrix Hand
Held Magnetic Bead Washer (Affymetrix P/N QP0702) was used to wash
the beads, thus removing all unbound materials. 100 .mu.L of 2.0
Pre-Amplifier Working Reagent (3:1000 dilution using PreAmp
solution+Amp diluent provided by manufacturer) was added to each
assay well. The Magnetic Separation Plate was sealed with adhesive
backed foil and incubated for 1 hour at 50.degree. C..+-.1.degree.
C. and 600 rpm. The unbound 2.0 Pre-Amplifier was removed and beads
washed 3.times. with 100 .mu.L Wash Buffer (provided by
manufacturer) using the handheld magnetic washer. This was followed
by incubation with 2.0 Amplifier Working Reagent, followed by Label
Probe Working Reagent, and finally followed by SAPE Working Reagent
(all three solutions 100 .mu.L at 3:1000 dilution, manufacturer
provided). Incubation and washing were done as described above.
Signals from the beads were measured with a LUMINEX.RTM.
FLEXMAP.RTM. 3D instrument (LUMINEX.RTM. Corp. Austin, Tex.), after
re-suspending the beads in 130 ul SAPE Wash Buffer, using dd gate
settings of 5,000-25,000. 50-100 beads per target were measured in
a sample volume of 100 ul.
[0337] QUANTIGENE PLEX.RTM. 384-Well Assay Protocol:
[0338] The QUANTIGENE PLEX.RTM. 384-well Assay was optimized using
technical support from Affymetrix and using the 96-well assay
protocol provided by the manufacturer. 6,000 and 12,000 cells were
seeded per well of a 384 well plate. Proportional volumes of
reagents/well were used for the 384-well plate. Signal was measured
as described above.
B. Results
[0339] 1. Generation of iPSC-Derived RPE
[0340] A high content screening assay was developed that
simultaneously monitors developmental and functional features of
stem cell-derived RPE. FIG. 25A provides an overview of the
experimental strategy for obtaining pure cultures of iPSC-derived
RPE, the steps required to prepare cells for functional
authentication and use in a high-throughput screen. iPSCs were
generated from human adult female dermal fibroblasts, using
retroviral vectors expressing OCT3/4, c-MYC, SOX2, and KLF4.
Pluripotency of selected iPSC colonies was determined using the
following three pluripotency validation assays: (I) positive
immunostaining for pluripotency markers NANOG, SSEA4, TRA1-60,
OCT3/4, c-MYC, SOX2, and KLF4 (FIG. 25B); (II) comparison of mRNA
expression of NANOG, OCT3/4, c-MYC, SOX2, and KLF4 to an embryonic
stem cell line and to dermal fibroblasts. The transduced viral
vector also expressed OCT3/4, c-MYC, SOX2, and KLF4, therefore,
specific primer sets were used to distinguish expression from the
endogenous locus to the total expression (viral vector+endogenous)
(FIG. 25C). Expression of pluripotency markers from endogenous loci
in iPSCs was significantly higher as compared to dermal fibroblasts
and comparatively higher or equal to undifferentiated ES cells
(FIG. 25C); (III) ability of iPSCs to differentiate into all three
germ layers. As shown in FIG. 25D, this iPSC line differentiates
into all three germ layers.
[0341] iPSCs were differentiated into RPE using the methods
disclosed herein. Pigmented cell clusters with RPE-like cobblestone
morphology were manually picked and expanded in a T25 flask to
obtain pure cultures of RPE cells. Purified RPE cells were
re-seeded onto transwell filters to obtain polarized confluent
electrically intact RPE monolayers in approximately 6-8 weeks
Immunostaining performed at this stage for epithelial marker ZO1
confirmed the typical epithelial morphology of the cells (FIG.
26A). iPSC-derived RPE also expressed EZRIN, an apical process
localized protein; DCT, an enzyme important for RPE pigmentation;
CLCN2, a chloride channel that is critical for volume regulation of
the RPE; and SLC16A1, an apical membrane monocarboxylate
transporter that is required for lactate transport across the RPE
monolayer and involved in intracellular pH regulation. Analysis of
transmission electron microscopy images revealed several typical
RPE features in these cells such as cigar and oval shaped
melanosomes localized predominantly apically (me, arrowhead), tight
junctions (tj) between adjoining cells, and apical processes
(arrow) (FIG. 26B).
[0342] Many characteristic physiological responses of human native
and cultured RPE cells can be measured in vitro. iPS C-derived RPE
monolayer cultures display several of these features. These cells
are electrically intact displaying a transepithelial resistance
across the monolayer of 170-200 .OMEGA..cm.sup.2 (FIGS. 26C and
26D) and their steady-state intracellular calcium concentration is
.apprxeq.120 nM. Similar to native RPE, in iPSC-derived RPE
stimulation of apical membrane P2Y2 receptors by ATP leads to a
typical bi-phasic response, the initial response signals the
release of intracellular calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum
into the cytoplasm, and the second phase is dependent on the
presence of extracellular Ca.sup.2+ (Maminishkis et al.,
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 47(8):3612-3624,
2006). Application of cyclopiazonic acid blocks sarco/endoplasmic
reticulum Ca.sup.2+ ATPase, an ATP dependent calcium reuptake
channel located on the ER membrane leading to steady-state calcium
increases and blunts the ATP response (FIG. 26C).
Electrophysiologically, the resting membrane potentials of apical
and basal membranes are approximately -55 mV (basal side slightly
more depolarized as compared to the apical side) leading to a
transepithelial potential (TEP) across the monolayer of 2.5 mV,
apical side positive (FIG. 26D). Changes in K.sup.+ concentration
in the apical bath from 5 mM to 1 mM, which mimics the in vivo
alterations in subretinal space K.sup.+ following dark to light
transitions, significantly hyperpolarizes the apical membrane by
10-20 mV, thus leading to a sharp decreases in TEP (17, 20).
Application of ATP to the apical membrane significantly depolarizes
the basolateral membrane following the release of calcium from
intracellular stores and activation of basolateral membrane
Ca.sup.2+-activated Cl.sup.- channels (Maminishkis et al., supra;
Quinn et al., supra; Steinberg et al., Documenta ophthalmologica.
Advances in ophthalmology 60(4):327-346, 1985).
[0343] The expression of pluripotency and RPE signature genes was
compared in undifferentiated iPSCs, iPSC-derived RPE, and primary
human fetal RPE using qRT-PCR (Liao et al., Human molecular
genetics 19(21):4229-4238, 2010; Strunnikova et al., Human
molecular genetics 19(12):2468-248, 2010). Two major pluripotency
genes OCT3/4 (also called POU5F1) and SOX2 are downregulated in
iPSC-derived RPE as compared to undifferentiated iPSCs suggesting a
loss of the pluripotent state. However, several other RPE-specific
transcription factors, pigmentation pathways genes, visual cycle
genes, structural proteins, and channels were expressed at
significantly higher levels in iPSC-derived RPE as compared to
undifferentiated iPSCs and at a lower or at similar levels as
compared to the primary RPE (Table A).
TABLE-US-00016 TABLE A Fold difference in gene expression in
iPSC-RPE as compared to: iPSCs Primary RPE Pluripotency related
transcription factors POU5F1 -25.00 -1.69 KLF4 2.80 27.92 SOX2
-20.00 23.05 c-MYC -1.09 -1.78 RPE-related and developmental
transcription factors MITF undetermined* -5.88 TFEC undetermined*
-4.17 PAX6 44.00 1.00 OTX2 4.43 -4.17 SOX9 94.16 -1.89 SIX3 61.01
-5.00 ROR beta 5.62 -3.57 LHX2 53.71 -10.00 CRX undetermined* -1.67
GAS1 19.60 -1.64 Pigmentation pathway genes GPNMB 429.94 -5.56
MYRIP 57.92 -2.44 RAB27A 20.32 -1.96 OCA2 31.23 -5.56 DCT
undetermined* -3.22 TYROSINASE undetermined* -4.00 TYRP1
undetermined* -3.03 PMEL 38.05 -10.00 Visual cycle genes ALDH1A3
27.13 -2.32 RPE65 318.03 -2.94 RDH5 151.60 2.08 RLBP1 58.73 -2.86
Membrane proteins and channels CDH1 -33.33 -25.00 CDH3 -2.86 -5.88
CLDN16 u.d. -1.23 CLDN19 26.78 -3.44 TRPM1 undetermined* -1.19
TRPM3 59.88 -1.43 MERTK 2.81 -1.09 BEST1 1653.15 -1.96 COL11A1
156.39 2.99 CSPG5 19.48 -3.57
[0344] These results suggest that iPSC-derived RPE, have attained
an RPE-like phenotype, are but are not in a completely mature
state. It is noteworthy that despite the fact that iPSC-derived RPE
express higher levels of fetal or progenitor genes (SOX2 and KLF4,
see Table A), physiological response of these cells are not
significantly compromised.
A Proof-of-Principle High-Throughput Scalable Multiplex Gene
Expression Assay Using Authenticated iPSC-Derived RPE
[0345] The goals were to develop a high-throughput screening assay
that can simultaneously monitor developmental, functional, and
disease markers for RPE and perform proof-of-principle analysis of
the assay. In designing the screening assay platform, a multiplex
gene expression assay was chosen for two main reasons: (1) it is a
high content assay that allows the simultaneous detection of genes
involved in RPE development, differentiation, function, and
pathology; (2) it is readily amenable for a high-throughput
screening using standard screening instrumentation. Genes were
selected that measured different cellular processes--RPE
development and differentiation (SOX2 and PAX6), RPE function
(TYROSINASE, RPE65, RDH5, TRPM1, CSPG5, and BEST1), and RPE
pathology (TYROSINASE, RPE65, RDH5, BEST1). FIG. 27A summarizes the
outline of the multiplex assay, FIG. 27B shows schematics of the
assay principle, and FIG. 27C provides a list of genes used in this
multiplex assay, their accession numbers, respective length of
their mRNA, and the regions to which
[0346] Capture Extenders and Label Extenders were hybridized. In
brief, mRNA isolated in cell lysate prepared in micro-titer plates
is bound to LUMINEX.RTM. beads using the anti-sense oligonucleotide
technology. Detection probe (biotin-streptavidin-phycoerythrin) is
hybridized to specific mRNA also using the anti-sense
oligonucleotide technology. mRNA quantification is performed using
a flow cytometry based equipment that recognizes the specific
fluorescent label on each bead and measures signal intensity per
bead.
[0347] As a proof-of-principle, the feasibility was demonstrated of
a multiplex gene expression assay to simultaneously detect
differential levels of multiple genes in a well of a 96-well or
384-well plate between undifferentiated iPSCs, iPSC-derived RPE,
and primary human fetal RPE. A total of nine genes were selected
for the optimization. HPRT1 and B2M, two housekeeping genes were
used for data normalization, because previous work suggested that
the expression of these two genes does not differ significantly
among the three cell types used in this assay (22). To analyze RPE
differentiation, functioning, and pathology the expression of SOX2,
PAX6, RPE65, RDH5, CSPG5, TRPM1, and BEST1 was monitored. For in
vitro culture, cells seeded at higher density mature faster
compared to cells seeded at lower density. Therefore, both
iPSC-derived RPE and primary fetal RPE were seeded at two cell
densities, 25,000 cells/well or 50,000 cells/well (FIGS. 28B-D).
Undifferentiated iPSCs were used as an additional control (FIG.
28A). iPSC-derived RPE and primary RPE were cultured for two weeks
to generate confluent pigmented monolayers. To perform the assay at
the same time for all cells types, iPSCs were cultured later and
reached confluence in only five days. A linear range of detection
was calculated for each probe set using purified RNA, and lysates
from undifferentiated iPSCs, iPSC-derived RPE (low and high cell
density), and primary RPE (low and high cell density) (FIG. 36).
All the probes detected signal above the background over a sixteen
fold sequential dilution. The linear regression plot generated from
this serial dilution generated a coefficient of determination value
of more than 0.97 in all cases, indicating that the probes were
able to detect a signal over a large range of mRNA
concentrations.
[0348] The results of this assay are presented as fold change in
gene expression in iPSC-derived RPE at two different cell densities
as compared to undifferentiated iPSCs (FIGS. 28E and 28F) and as
compared to primary fetal RPE at high cell density (FIGS. 28G and
28H). As expected, compared to undifferentiated iPSC, iPSC-derived
RPE expresses lower levels of neural progenitor factor SOX2 and
much higher levels of RPE-specific genes PAX6, RPE65, RDH5, TRPM1,
and BEST1. CSPG5 an extracellular protein is expressed at similar
levels in the two cell types. An important goal of this
optimization was to compare results obtained from the multiplex
assay to those obtained from a standard qRT-PCR assay (Table A).
Therefore, the Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was determined
between fold change in gene expression obtained from the multiplex
assay and from the qRT-PCR assay. The results show that the two
assays are significantly correlated (r-value=0.69 and 0.75). This
provides confidence that the multiplex assay measures relevant gene
expression changes and can be used for a high-throughput screen. In
conclusion, this high-content gene expression assay can be
performed in one and a half days in a high-throughput fashion on
undifferentiated iPSCs, iPSC-derived RPE, and primary human RPE.
When compared to primary fetal RPE, iPS C-derived RPE express lower
levels of differentiation RPE markers (RPE65, RDH5, CSPG5, BEST1)
and higher levels of progenitor transcription factors PAX6 and
SOX2, suggesting a relatively immature state of these cells. It is,
however, important to note that the results obtained by comparison
of primary RPE and iPSC-derived RPE in multiplex assay are strongly
correlated with the standard qRT-PCR assay presented in Table
A.
Evaluating the Limit of Detection and Increasing the Throughput of
the Assay
[0349] The limit of detection for each transcript in a given assay
well was tested, another important aspect of the multiplex assay.
The suggested minimal limit of detection for the multiplex gene
expression assay is less than or equal to 200 transcripts when
analyzing one target per well of a 96-well plate. The following
formula was used to calculate the limit of detection (LOD) of our
probe set: LOD=Average background value of four wells+3.times.
standard deviation of the average background value (Affymetrix,
manufacturer manual). The assay was significantly more sensitive
than the described limit, and the following values of detection
were obtained: SOX2=41, PAX6=32, RPE65=24, RDH5=10, CSPG5=19,
TRPM1=25, BEST1=11, HPRT1=55, and B2M=30. In view of these
transcript numbers, the assay was tested in a 384-well format for
increased screening throughput and reduce reagent and screening
costs.
[0350] To test the linearity of the range of signal detection, the
assay was performed using two cell densities, 6,000 and 12,000
cells/well in 384-well plate. As expected, after two weeks of
culture in 384-well plates, the lower cell density produced less
confluent and less pigmented cell layer both for primary fetal RPE
cells and for iPSC-derived RPE (FIG. 35A-35D). Two different bead
concentrations--700 beads/well per probe, as recommended for a
96-well plate, and 375 beads/well per probe, were tested. An
additional probe, TYROSINASE representing RPE maturity was included
in this assay. FIG. 35 shows that the assay was successfully
optimized in 384-well plate using both bead concentrations. This
data support the following three conclusions: (1) results obtained
in 384-well plates are similar to those obtained in 96-well plates.
For example, when compared to primary RPE, iPSC-derived RPE express
higher levels of SOX2 and PAX6 and lower levels of RPE
differentiation/functioning genes; (2) the two bead concentrations
give almost identical results in the 384-well plate format; (3) the
multiplex assay in 384-well plates correlates better (Pearson's
correlation coefficient of 0.91 and 0.89 respectively for high and
low beads) with the qRT-PCR data as compared to the 96-well plate
assay. In conclusion, the present results demonstrate that changes
in expression of up to ten different genes can be measured
simultaneously using iPSC-derived RPE 384-well plates.
[0351] The approach presented here provides a well-defined method
for identifying small molecules that downregulate the expression of
progenitor genes and upregulate the expression of differentiation
genes, thus allowing systematic maturation of pluripotent stem
cell-derived RPE in culture. This iPSC-derived RPE can be more
effective in therapeutic intervention of macular degenerative
diseases and also serve as effective disease model. This screening
method also can be used to identify small molecules that alter the
activity of putative disease-causing pathways and lead to the
discovery of therapeutic drugs.
Example 9
QUANTIGENEPLEX.RTM.2.0 Reagent System
[0352] 96-Well Assay Protocol
[0353] The QUANTIGENE PLEX.RTM. 96-well Assay was done using
following protocol. Cells were seeded per well in 96 well plate and
let adjust to the wells for 10 days at 37.degree. C., 5% CO.sub.2,
with manual media exchanges every other day. Cells from individual
wells were then lysed in 200 .mu.L working lysis mixture
(Affymetrix) for 30 minutes at 50.degree. C. 80 .mu.L of cell
lysate were transferred to the assay's hybridization plate (96-well
clear polypropylene plate Abgene #AB0796), where each well already
contained 20 .mu.L of Working Bead Mix. Each 20 .mu.L of Working
Bead Mix contained 6.6 .mu.L of Lysis Mixture, 5.2 .mu.L of
nuclease free water, 0.2 .mu.L of Proteinase K solution, 2 .mu.L of
Blocking Reagent, 5 .mu.L of Probe Set, 1 .mu.L of magnetic Luminex
beads (1000 beads per gene/well). The Probe Set and Luminex Beads
correspond to QuantiGene Plex Set--Panel #11828. The hybridization
plate was sealed with the supplied clear, pressure-activated seals
and placed in a heating/shaking incubator (LabNet VorTemp 56 P/N
S-0256-Q) and incubated for 18-22 hours at 54.degree.
C..+-.1.degree. C. and shaking at 600 rpm. Each of the Magnetic
beads used in the multiplex assay have different ssDNA Capture
Probes, that work together with the probe set to capture different
mRNA targets onto different beads. The overnight hybridization
mixtures were then transferred to a 96 well Magnetic Separation
Plate (96-well flat bottom microplate Nunc #269620). An Affymetrix
Hand Held Magnetic Bead Washer (Affymetrix P/N QP0702) was used to
wash the beads, thus removing all unbound materials. 100 .mu.L of
2.0 Pre-Amplifier Working Reagent (3:1000 dilution using PreAmp
solution+Amp diluent provided by manufacturer) was added to each
assay well. The Magnetic Separation Plate was sealed with adhesive
backed foil and incubated for 1 hour at 50.degree. C..+-.1.degree.
C. and 600 rpm. The unbound 2.0 Pre-Amplifier was removed and beads
washed 3.times. with 100 .mu.L of Wash Buffer (provided by
manufacturer) using the handheld magnetic plate. 100 .mu.L of 2.0
Amplifier Working Reagent (3:1000 dilution using Amp solution+Amp
diluent provided by manufacturer) was added to each assay well. The
Magnetic Separation Plate was sealed and incubated for 1 hour at
50.degree. C..+-.1.degree. C. and 600 rpm. The unbound 2.0
Amplifier was removed and beads washed 3.times. with 100 .mu.L Wash
Buffer using the handheld magnetic bead washer. 100 .mu.L of Label
Probe Working Reagent (3:1000 dilution using LabelProbe
solution+LabelProbe diluent provided by manufacturer) was added to
each assay well. The Magnetic Separation Plate was sealed and
incubated for 1 hour at 50.degree. C..+-.1.degree. C. and 600 rpm.
The unbound Label Probe was removed and beads washed 3.times. with
100 .mu.L Wash Buffer using the handheld magnetic bead washer. 100
.mu.L of SAPE Working Reagent (3:1000 dilution using SAPE
solution+SAPE diluent provided by manufacturer) was added to each
assay well. The Magnetic Separation Plate was sealed, wrapped in
aluminum foil, and incubated for 30 min at RT and 600 rpm. The
unbound SAPE Working Reagent was removed and beads washed 3.times.
with 100 .mu.L SAPE diluent using the handheld magnetic bead
washer. Signal from beads was measured with a Luminex Flex Map 3D
instrument after first re-suspending the beads in 130 .mu.L of SAPE
diluent, using DD gate settings between 50-100 beads per message, a
sample volume of 50 .mu.L, and a sample timeout of 45 seconds.
Example 10
Aphidicolin
[0354] Aphidicolin is a reversible inhibitor of eukaryotic nuclear
DNA replication that blocks the cell cycle at early S phase. Its
structure is that of a tetracyclic small molecule. Aphidicolin
added to iPS cell derived RPE growing on artificial
membranes/scaffolds, improves their RPE phenotype. It causes
committed RPE cells to further mature and form fully-differentiated
and highly polarized tissue monolayers (see FIGS. 30-31).
Aphidicolin is dissolved in fourth medium and RPE cells are
cultured in it for 6-8 weeks before analysis is done.
[0355] Fully-differentiated and polarized RPE tissues on scaffolds
will provide more effective therapies for retinal degenerative
diseases and will also provide more "natural" models for in vitro
disease modeling and for high throughput screenings. Aphidicolin
treatment generates tissues with fully mature tight junctions and
more mature physiological responses. When combined with a
biodegradable scaffold, this compound stimulates RPE monolayer to
secrete its own extracellular matrix and attain a real tissue like
features.
Example 11
Alginate Coating Enhances Cell Viability and Reduces Cell
Detachment
[0356] An alginate-enhanced Cryopreservation Protocol is provided
below. The results are shown in FIG. 32A-32D. [0357] 1. Use 10 mm
biopsy punch (ACCU-PUNCH.RTM., USA) to cut out transwell membrane
with confluent monolayer of hfRPE. [0358] 2. Dip sample into
autoclave-sterilized 0.7% sodium alginate (Sigma Aldrich, United
Kingdom) dissolved ddH2O for 0.5 seconds. [0359] 3. Dip sample into
autoclave-sterilized 2% CaC12 (Sigma Aldrich, USA) in ddH2O for 0.5
seconds, to polymerize alginate. [0360] 4 Immediately place sample
into 2 mL cryovial (Corning, USA) containing either 1 mL CryoStor
CS10 (STEMCELL.RTM., Canada) or 10% DMSO cryopreservation media
(500 .mu.L 5% RPE, 400 .mu.L FBS, 1004, DMSO). [0361] 5. Place
cryovials on ice for 30 minutes. [0362] 6. Transfer cryovials to a
Mr. Frosty freezing container (Thermo Scientific, USA), pre-cooled
to 4.degree. C., and cool to -80.degree. C. at a rate of 1.degree.
C./min [0363] 7. Recover cryopreserved tissue by partially melting
samples in a 37.degree. C. water bath. [0364] 8. Add 1 mL
pre-warmed 5% RPE media to cryovial to complete melting. [0365] 9.
Transfer sample into 1 mL 5% RPE to rinse away cryopreservation
media components. [0366] 10. Move sample into 1 mL 5% RPE medium.
[0367] 11. Allow recovery for 3 days, changing media daily. [0368]
12. Test cell viability using ethidium homodimer-1 (2.5 .mu.M).
[0369] Prepare the SNAPWELL.TM. (Costar, US) system (FIG. 33A-33E)
[0370] 1. Manually separate the well top from the well bottom (FIG.
2A) [0371] 2. Place the scaffold (Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company
(Pty) Ltd., South Africa) into the center of the SNAPWELL.TM.
bottom so that it lays flat (FIG. 2B). [0372] 3. Place an O-ring
(polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), 12 mm.times.10.25 mm.times.1.2 mm,
Superior Washer and Gasket Corp, US) on top of the scaffold so that
it holds the scaffold in place. The O-ring must be previously
sterilized by 20-minute treatment in 70% ethanol (FIG. 2C). [0373]
4. Place the SNAPWELL.TM. top on top of the O-ring and gently press
into place (FIG. 2D).
[0374] Prepare the Scaffold for Cell Seeding [0375] 1. Dispense 200
mL of 1.times.PBS (Life technologies, US) into the SnapWell.TM.
with the scaffold. Leave for two hours at room temperature. [0376]
2. Aspirate out the PBS and add 200 mL of human extracellular
matrix (ECM)/1.times.HBSS with phenol red (PR) solution to each
SnapWell.TM. (1 vial ECM: 20 mL HBSS). Human ECM (BD BioSciences,
US 1.times.HBSS with phenol red (Life technologies, US). [0377] 3.
Place the plate, lid off, under UV light for 2 hours. [0378] 4.
After 2 hours, turn off UV. To prevent the solution from drying out
during cell preparation add 100 mL 1.times.HBSS without PR (Life
technologies, US) to the 200 mL of human ECM/1.times.HBSS with PR
solution.
Seed Cells
[0378] [0379] 1. Aspirate out the 300 mL of human ECM/1.times.HBSS
solution. [0380] 2. Dispense 500 mL of cell suspension (in 5% RPE
media at a density of 250,000 cells per mL) into each well. The use
of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology to differentiate
RPE provides an autologous or allogeneic cell-based therapy for
patients with ocular degeneration. RPE cells derived from stem
cells have been injected as a cell suspension into the eyes of
patients with retinal degeneration. RPE tissue was generated from
iPSC derived RPE grown as a polarized confluent monolayer on a
biodegradable scaffold. By transplanting a single monolayer tissue,
one can circumnavigate the problems associated with
suspensions.
[0381] RPE cells were cultured on biocompatible membranes, such as
parylene-C and polyimide (Diniz et al, IOVS 2013). These membranes
do not degrade overtime, leaving a permanent foreign entity in the
eye, which over time will get clogged with proteinaceous material.
Disclosed herein is a technique that allows hydrolytic degradation
to remove the scaffold as the RPE layer matures and creates its own
external environment. Therefore, our method for creating functional
and polarized RPE monolayers on scaffolds is a viable tissue
engineering strategy that provides therapy for retinal degenerative
diseases.
[0382] A protocol was produced that utilizes biodegradable
scaffolds for culturing RPE cells into a functional tissue that can
be translated into in vivo models to combat rental diseases. The
main components of this method are a CORNING.RTM. COSTAR.RTM.
SNAPWELL.TM. plate, a bioinert 0-ring, and a biodegradable
scaffold. SNAPWELL.TM. plates provide the structure and platform
for the biodegradable scaffolds. The microporous membrane that
creates an apical and basal side is ideal for providing support to
the scaffold as well as isolating the distinct sides of the
polarized layer of cells. The ability of the SNAPWELL.TM. insert to
detach the membrane allows the support ring of the insert to be
used an anchor for the scaffold. However, after combing the support
ring and membrane, there is a small void between the bottom lip of
the support ring and the porous membrane itself. Therefore, we have
utilized a bioinert O-ring to fit perfectly and fill the void. Now,
the support rig can apply pressure uniformly around the outer edge
of the membrane to hold the scaffold against the membrane.
[0383] First, the SNAPWELL.TM. apparatus was disassembled, the
support ring was removed from the bottom membrane. Next, the
biodegradable scaffold, was precut to match the interior dimensions
of the SNAPWELL.TM. membrane, and was placed flat along the bottom
of the membrane. The 0-ring was then placed directly into the
membrane portion of the SNAPWELL.TM. insert on top of both the
scaffold and the membrane. Then, the SnapWell.TM. insert was
reassembled, ensuring that the support ring presses on the 0-ring
so that there is no gap between the support rig and the porous
membrane.
[0384] Prior to adding any solution to the culturing device, the
scaffolds were wetted and sterilized using techniques such as
ethanol treatments and ultraviolet light exposure. This scaffold
and membrane structure was then suitable for culturing polarized
cells by seeding cells on top of scaffold. After the cells were
placed onto the scaffold, the culture conditions were maintained
including applying additional factors until the tissue is fully
develop and functional. The tissue was then ready for use in
transplantation to in vivo models or other in vitro studies.
[0385] The culturing assembly can be disassembled, detaching the
support ring from the membrane and lifting the O-ring out of the
membrane ring. The tissue could also be directly punched or cut out
of the device. Since there is nothing chemically holding the tissue
to the porous membrane, the tissue lifts off and away from the
membrane after being cut. Resulting RPE tissue can be transplanted
as a single entity into the subretinal space of patients with
retinal degeneration in order to resurrect the degrading areas by
preventing photoreceptor death and promoting photoreceptor
regeneration.
[0386] In view of the many possible embodiments to which the
principles of our invention may be applied, it should be recognized
that illustrated embodiments are only examples of the invention and
should not be considered a limitation on the scope of the
invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the
following claims. We therefore claim as our invention all that
comes within the scope and spirit of these claims.
Sequence CWU 1
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atgctataat atattcatta 1620catattatta aaataattaa tgtaaaaata
cccaaaatgt gaaaataaca cgtaagtcct 1680attttatgat tttccatatc
aaattcagaa actaatactc agatcttatt gtttaaatag 1740tatttaaaat
taaagacaca tagtcaggaa tatatgctaa ataaattttc caaattgaat
1800aactaacttt cagggttgcc ttactttcaa caagaatatg cctctatttg
attactaatt 1860gtaactttgt tcatagacta cataaggtaa tattacaaac
atattcatta ttttgacaca 1920tacttactta aataataaat aaacattaga
aaatatactt actatttata tataaagaat 1980ttttttgttt cgaaggaact
ttaataaatg agattataag gttgttgttc aggtacattg 2040aacatttttt
caggttaata aggtgtctaa aaataagttt agaaagatct aaggtattct
2100tttttatttg tttttgtcct tttttatttt tcttttttga actgggtttc
ttcttcaatt 2160agccctggct ggatgtcctg gaactagctc tatatgccat
gctgtcttca aactcataga 2220gatctgccta cctttgcatc ccaagtgctg
ggattaaagg tatgaaccac ctcttccacc 2280actgccaagt aagaattctt
attttacata agtcattatg aaggaagtta tgtgtttact 2340gtaaacaaga
ttaatgactt ggtttgctga ttttctctga aaacatgaaa tctcttcata
2400tagatcttgc ttctggataa taaaaggccc atggagaaat gttcgtctgt
ctagtttcat 2460attcatatta atgatcctga atcaattttc ctccattgag
acttgcatac ttaagtatta 2520atgattgctg gagttccatt cataaggatt
ctttatgtat tacatgttaa aatttttaaa 2580cctacgacat tttgggatat
agtttagtaa aacatcttaa atggtgtaag tggtaccaat 2640tagtttgaag
gcaaaaacaa ttgtttaagt ggattaaggt ctgttcaata ctagggaaca
2700cctgcttgaa acacttgaca atagaaactt agctaactta cccatgtctg
gaaaggtcat 2760ggactctgaa ggaaaactac ttttaccatt ttcctaaatc
aatatagctt ttaactattc 2820taaacactga tcattatacc catagacagt
ttagatcaac cctttccaaa gaagattctg 2880tttgtagtag ataaggctta
atacaaagat cctcaattgg tccaaatcca gagaataggt 2940aagcctgtgg
tgtttaggtg cccaacttag tctaccaata atactaccta tgtacttgag
3000tactagtgaa caggatacag aaggtggtat caggaagact gtaagaacca
gaaaatatga 3060atacatacat gtgtatattt atgcaagagt aacaattaaa
gaagtttatt aatctgagtg 3120tgtatgtgtt aatgtataaa aatctcagaa
aagtatttaa aattattttg cctttggaaa 3180taaaaataac aagtattgtt
caagaaaaag ataattccag gatactagcc aattttgctc 3240ttaacttaga
aatataatta tattttttct tctctttgac tggataaata tgtacgaatg
3300ttctttgaat atttgcagcc aatttgactc cctaaaaaat ggtatagttt
taaatgtgtt 3360taacatattg cttttgtgaa agacattttt ttagtattag
attcaatact ttttaaccat 3420gtggacatgg ttggtgttat ttttgttcta
gaaaggaact gttaaatttc tgctccaact 3480taggtcatat aagggaaaat
gaatctggta ttctacagaa aaatataact gtaaccattt 3540tgatgatttt
tgtgttaatt agcactgttt gtctgttcat atcattgagg cacagaaatg
3600gtatatttat ataacaccta ccaaacagcc tcataaagaa atagatagat
tctggggaat 3660aaatgatctc catttgatcc tcagttttat taaaatcctt
ctgttcctgt ggcatgaatt 3720catccaaact gagtaatgct ggcaagcagg
aaggggatca aggtcatcca agggatactg 3780acttggaagg gtctgggcat
gcaaccaagt acttccaggg tgaattatta ttaagaaaaa 3840gaatgttgac
aaaaaaatat gtgaaaagga cctatagcta gctattctct tggtgacctg
3900ggtcttgagg aagttctctg ggaagagtca ctcagcacat ttggtcaaat
gaattcacct 3960attctgaaaa ccaaatgaat atagatttct ggacacctcc
caaggattca tgtgtaagat 4020gaaatgcaga ttgttcacca aaattgtccc
tgactcctat acttagacca tttatttttc 4080tgaaatccca taaactgaga
agatgctgtc tgattagaag atacacaagt cgtggataat 4140aagacaaaag
agcccatgaa cctacaaagc tcattgcaaa gtgaacttct gtcttgtaac
4200agagaaagca gacaaaccaa caaaatcatt tatttcagtg aaaaggaggg
gccagaaatg 4260gaaagattac atttcctaag tctcgtactt gaagacaggt
tgggtcctca gaactaatta 4320agtagtagaa tgcacaatgt gcttcaagaa
aaaagaagct atgaaaaaca ggtagtctat 4380tttatttcaa cctagcaaca
gtgagaaaag gatgagctag caaggagatg cagatagtga 4440agtgtccatt
gtggatttac tctggttctg acaggtggaa ttgcttccat tcaaaacaaa
4500caaaataaac ttctaactca cagtaattca cagtgtcaca ctttgtaaca
caggatgtca 4560aagtttcagg acatacagtc tcaacacata ggtaattaat
ttaagtgagg tgatttgagt 4620gaatttaaat gcaatggact tgtagatttt
gtaaaaagaa gacacgtctt tcaatacgca 4680cacatatggg aaaatggtat
gtaaatatga agttagcact t 47212971DNAHomo sapiens 2caggaacatc
caaactgagc agccggggtc ccccccaccc cccaccccgc ccctcccggc 60aactttgagc
ctgtgctggg acagagcctc tagttcctaa attagtccat gaggtcagag
120gcagcactgc cattgtaacg cgattggaga ggatcacgtc accggacacg
cccccaggca 180tctccctggg tctcctaaac ttggcgggga gaagttttag
cccttaagtt ttagccttta 240acccccatat tcagaactgt gcgagttggc
gaaaccccac aaatcacaac aaactgtaca 300caacaccgag ctagaggtga
tctttcttgt ccattccaca caggccttag taatgcgtcg 360ccatagcaac
agtgtcacta gtagcaccag cacttcccca caccctcccc ctcaggaatc
420cgtactctcc agtgaacccc agaaacctct ggagagttct ggacaagggc
ggaacccaca 480actccgatta ctcaagggag gcggggaagc tccaccagac
gcgaaactgc tggaagattc 540ctggccccaa ggcctcctcc ggctcgctga
ttggcccagc ggagagtggg cggggccggt 600gaagactcct taaaggcgca
gggcggcgag caggtcacca gacgctgaca gctactcaga 660accaaatctg
gttccatcca gagacaagcg aaagacaaga gaagcagagc gagcggcgcg
720ttcccgatcc tcggccagga ccagccttcc ccagagcatc cctgccgcgg
agcgcaacct 780tcccaggagc atccctgccg cggagcgcaa ctttccccgg
agcatccacg gccgcggagc 840gcagcctttc cagaagcaga agcgcggcgc
caatggctcg cgaatgaatc ccgtcggttt 900taacaaacgg tcggtgaacc
tggggaaaaa cctgcggtta acccaactta aattcgccct 960ctgggcaaga c 971
* * * * *
References