Figure 1: hiPSC-derived retinal progenitors self-organized into EF-like domains and subsequently differentiated into NR and RPE.
From: Generation of three-dimensional retinal tissue with functional photoreceptors from human iPSCs
hiPSC-derived, free-floating aggregates (a) seeded in Matrigel-coated dishes acquired an anterior neuroepithelial (AN) fate characterized by SOX1/PAX6 expression (b,c); subsequently, retinal progenitors (LHX2-positive) first appeared in the centre of the aggregates (d). By D12, well-defined EF domains (e,f) expressing PAX6, LHX2 and RX (g,h) could be observed surrounded by AN cells (f). As differentiation progressed, cells within the EF domains co-expressed VSX2 and MITF (i), and afterwards differentiated into a central VSX2/LHX2/PAX6-positive NR domain (j–l) and a peripheral RPE domain expressing MITF but not VSX2 (l). (m–q) The NR domain progressively acquired an optic-cup-like shape. (r) Efficiency of NR domain formation among three hiPSC lines (mean±s.d., three experiments/time point/cell line). (s) Reverse transcription–PCR analysis showing progressive acquisition of retinal fate. Scale bars, 100 μm (a and m–p); 50 μm (b–l and q).
