Retinal Ganglion Cell Replacement in Clinically Relevant Models of Optic Neuropathy

本研究的目的是在一个物种中建立临床相关的视神经病变模型 概述了人类视网膜和视神经的解剖学和生理学，可以用来优化 诱导多能干细胞(IPSC)来源的视网膜神经节细胞(RGC)的同种异体移植。我们会 使用树鼠，它有一个胶原质的、承重的筛板和一个视锥占优势的视网膜 中心凹级别的会聚到RGC。我们将在此归纳和描述两种视神经病变。 种类、青光眼和外伤性视神经病变。同时，我们将优化树鼠的世代 成纤维细胞中的视杯类器官作为移植同种异体视网膜节细胞的来源。我们将比较 这些被诱导的RGC转化为原始树鼠RGCs的转录组图谱。我们将优化移植 这些细胞在两个模型中通过确定：1)移植的最佳疾病阶段，2)最佳 视网膜神经节细胞移植的分化阶段；3)调节内界膜是否会改善 整合，以及4)如果联合治疗，锌螯合剂将改善移植视网膜的轴突生长 神经节细胞。在描述这两个模型的过程中，我们将量化细胞因子水平、胶质细胞反应性、 轴突变性，随着时间的推移RGC死亡。我们移植研究的主要结果将是 功能：图形视网膜电图、活体钙成像和体外微电极记录。 Will的次要结果包括对神经节内存活的移植细胞进行量化 细胞层，轴突的长度，树突的形成和与上游神经元的突触连接。

The objective of this study is to generate clinically relevant models of optic neuropathy in a species that recapitulates the anatomy and physiology of the human retina and optic nerve that can be used to optimize allogenic transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). We will use the tree shrew, which has a collagenous, load-bearing lamina cribrosa and a cone-dominant retina with fovea-level convergence onto the RGCs. We will induce and characterize two optic neuropathies in this species, glaucoma and traumatic optic neuropathy. Simultaneously, we will optimize generation of tree shrew optic cup organoids from fibroblasts as the source of allogenic RGCs for transplantation. We will compare the transcriptome profile of these induced RGCs to primary tree shrew RGCs. We will optimize transplantation of these cells in both models by identifying: 1) the optimal disease stage for transplantation, 2) the optimal differentiation stage of the RGCs for transplantation, 3) if modulating the inner limiting membrane will improve integration, and 4) if co-treatment a zinc chelator will improve axon outgrowth of the transplanted retinal ganglion cells. In characterizing the two models we will quantify changes in cytokine levels, glial reactivity, axon degeneration, and RGC death over time. Our primary outcomes for the transplantation studies will be functional: pattern electroretinograms, in vivo calcium imaging, and ex vivo microelectrode recordings. Secondary outcomes for will include quantification of surviving transplanted cells located within the ganglion cell layer, the length of axons, and dendrite formation and synaptic connectivity with upstream neurons.