Fig. 7: ciRPE cell transplantation restores retinal function in RCS rat.

a Schematic diagram of subretinal ciRPE cell transplantation in RCS rats. b Representative OCT images showing the subretinal transplantation site of ciRPE cells in RCS rats at 0, 1, 2 and 3 weeks post-transplantation. Scale bar, 600 μm. c Representative photographs from in vivo imaging showing tumor formation in nude mice following subretinal transplantation of tdTomato-labeled mESCs (via lentivirus) and tdTomato-ciRPE cells. Quantitative analysis data are displayed in the right panel (n = 10 independent mice per group). d Representative images of bright-field (top) and immunofluorescence (bottom) from eye tissue sections 8 weeks after subretinal transplantation of tdTomato-ciRPE into RCS rats. The dashed box indicates the area of cell transplantation. The nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (blue). Scale bars, 200 μm. e Immunofluorescence analysis of whole retinal sections at 12 weeks post-transplantation showed clusters of tdTomato⁺ ciRPE cells in the transplanted area, forming a monolayer structure. Magnified views of the regions delineated by the dashed-line boxes show: (i) a non-transplanted region and (ii) transplanted areas. Quantitative analysis data are displayed in the right panel (n = 10 independent rats per group). Scale bars, 500 μm. f–h Representative immunostaining showing tdTomato⁺ ciRPE cells coexpressing Mitf (F), Best1 (G), and Pax6 (H). Scale bars, 50 μm. i Representative TUNEL-stained micrographs of retinal cryosections from RCS rats 12 weeks after ciRPE cell transplantation (left), with statistical results shown on the right, using the sham-transplanted group as a control (n = 10 independent rats per group). Scale bars, 50 μm. j Representative immunostaining showing transplanted tdTomato⁺ ciRPE cells coexpressing Rhodopsin in the retina of RCS rats 12 weeks after transplantation. Scale bars, 50 μm. k Representative b-wave responses of the ciRPEs-transplanted and sham-transplanted groups were assessed through fERG with an intensity of 0.48 log cd*s/m² (dark 3.0) at 4w, 8w, 12w and 16w post transplantation (left). Statistical analysis of b-wave amplitudes in the ciRPEs-transplanted and sham-transplanted groups (right) (n = 6 independent rats per group). l Schematic illustration of the qOMR test setup (left). Quantitative evaluation of visual acuity in the ciRPEs-transplanted and sham-transplanted groups, obtained through the qOMR test at 4w, 8w, 12w and 16w post transplantation (right) (n = 10 independent rats per group). Data are mean ± SD. Unpaired, two-tailed Student’s t-test was used to assess statistical significance. Three independent experiments were performed with similar results and representative results are shown. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.