Graft cell expansion from hiPSC-RPE strip after transplantation in primate eyes with or without RPE damage.

Clinical studies using suspensions or sheets of human pluripotent cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells (hiPSC-RPE) have been conducted globally for diseases such as age-related macular degeneration. Despite being minimally invasive, cell suspension transplantation faces challenges in targeted cell delivery and frequent cell leakage. Conversely, although the RPE sheet ensures targeted delivery with correct cell polarity, it requires invasive surgery, and graft preparation is time-consuming. We previously reported hiPSC-RPE strips as a form of quick cell aggregate that allows for reliable cell delivery to the target area with minimal invasiveness. In this study, we used a microsecond pulse laser to create a local RPE ablation model in cynomolgus monkey eyes. The hiPSC-RPE strips were transplanted into the RPE-ablated and intact sites. The hiPSC-RPE strip stably survived in all transplanted monkey eyes. The expansion area of the RPE from the engrafted strip was larger at the RPE injury site than at the intact site with no tumorigenic growth. Histological observation showed a monolayer expansion of the transplanted RPE cells with the expression of MERTK apically and collagen type 4 basally. The hiPSC-RPE strip is considered a beneficial transplantation option for RPE cell therapy.

Concomitant Treatment with Etanercept and Tacrolimus Synergistically Attenuates Arthritis Progression via Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Production and Osteoclastogenesis in Human TNF-α Transgenic Mice.

In the present study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of action of a combined treatment with etanercept, a soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (p75) Fc fusion protein, and tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor on the progression of arthritis in human tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) transgenic (hTNF-Tg) mice. Single-drug treatments with etanercept and tacrolimus attenuated the clinical signs but not the radiographic changes associated with the development of arthritis in mice. On the contrary, combined treatment significantly suppressed the radiographic progression and also improved the clinical signs. The combined treatment exhibited synergistic effects of the two drugs in reducing the serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 level and the number of peripheral CD11bhigh osteoclast precursor cells. Moreover, tacrolimus inhibited the cytokine-induced osteoclast differentiation in synergy with etanercept in an in vitro assay. Interestingly, tacrolimus did not inhibit the production of antidrug antibodies (ADAs) against etanercept in the hTNF-Tg mice. This result implies that the synergistic effects of etanercept and tacrolimus are not due to secondary effects derived from the suppression of ADA production by tacrolimus but are due to their primary effects. These findings suggest that concomitant treatment with etanercept and tacrolimus may be one of preferable treatment options to control disease activities for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, especially for those with bone resorption.

OCT evaluation of neuroprotective effects of tafluprost on retinal injury after intravitreal injection of endothelin-1 in the rat eye.

PURPOSE: To determine whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a useful technique to monitor retinal damage and to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of topical tafluprost in a rat model of intravitreal endothelin-1 (ET-1) injection. METHODS: A single intravitreal injection of ET-1 (0.2-200 pmol/eye) was performed in one eye. Optical coherence tomography imaging was performed until 2 weeks after ET-1 injection. Subsequently, an intravitreal injection of ET-1 (20 pmol/eye) was performed in one eye of each rat, which was followed by topical instillation of tafluprost or saline once daily for 4 weeks. Optical coherence tomography imaging was performed until 4 weeks after ET-1 injection. After the last OCT session, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were retrogradely labeled with Fluorogold. RESULTS: Endothelin-1 at doses of 20 to 200 pmol/eye caused a significant decrease in inner retinal thickness, whereas ET-1 at doses of 0.2 to 5 pmol/eye did not. The inner retinal thickness at 2 weeks postinjection was strongly correlated with Fluorogold-labeled RGC counts in the central retina (r = 0.92, P < 0.001). The inner retina of eyes treated with tafluprost was significantly thicker than eyes treated with saline at 1 and 2 weeks (P = 0.038 and P = 0.045, respectively). Fluorogold-labeled RGC counts in the central retina of eyes treated with tafluprost were significantly greater than in eyes treated with saline (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Optical coherence tomography is useful for monitoring inner retinal damage in a rat model of intravitreal ET-1 injection. Daily topical administration of tafluprost may be protective against ET-1-induced retinal injury in the rat.

Flt1 and Flk1 mediate regulation of intraocular pressure and their double heterozygosity causes the buphthalmia in mice.

Flt1 and Flk1 are receptor tyrosine kinases for vascular endothelial growth factor-A which play a crucial role in physiological and pathological angiogenesis. To study genetic interaction between the Flt1 and Flk1 genes, we crossed between Flt1 and Flk1 heterozygous (Flt1(+/-) and Flk1(+/-)) mice. We found that Flt1; Flk1 double heterozygous (Flt1(+/-); Flk1(+/-)) mice showed enlarged eyes similar to the buphthalmia detected in human congenital glaucoma with elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). Actually, IOP was elevated in Flt1(+/-); Flk1(+/-) mice and also in Flt1 or Flk1 single heterozygous mice. However, none of these mutants showed hallmarks of glaucoma such as ganglion cell death and excavation of optic disc. To clarify the pathological causes for enlarged eyes and elevated IOP, we investigate the mice from matings between Flt1(+/-) and Flk1(+/-) mice. Flt1(+/-) mice showed enlarged Schlemm's canal and disordered collagen fibers in the sclera, whereas Flk1(+/-) mice showed atrophied choriocapillaris in the choroid. These tissues are a part of the main outflow and alternative uveoscleral outflow pathway of the aqueous humor, suggesting that these pathological changes found in Flt1(+/-) and Flk1(+/-) mice are associated with the buphthalmia in Flt1(+/-); Flk1(+/-) mice.