Retinoid Uptake, Processing, and Secretion in Human iPS-RPE Support the Vision Cycle.

摘要

Retinal pigmented epithelium derived from human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells (iPS RPE) may be a source of cells for transplantation. For this reason, it is essential to determine the functional competence of iPS RPE. One key role of the RPE is uptake and processing of retinoids via the visual cycle. The purpose of this study is to investigate the expression of visual cycle proteins and the functional ability of the visual cycle in iPS RPE. iPS RPE develops classic RPE characteristics and maintains expression of visual cycle proteins. The results of this study confirm that iPS RPE possesses the machinery to process retinoids for support of visual pigment regeneration. Inhibition of all trans retinylester accumulation by NEM confirms LRAT is active in iPS RPE. Finally, the detection of 11 cisretinaldehyde in the culture medium demonstrates the cells' ability to process retinoids through the visual cycle. This study demonstrates expression of key visual cycle machinery and complete visual cycle activity in iPS RPE.