We wish to thank Alison Dorsey for helping to develop the subretinal injection technique. We also acknowledge the National Eye Institute (NEI grants EY11254 and EY021416), California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM grant TR1-01219), and the Lowy Medical Research Institute (LMRI) for very generous funding for this project.

NOTA: Todos los animales fueron tratados de acuerdo con las normas éticas establecidas por el Instituto de Investigación Scripps. 1. Preparación de los materiales para la inyección (~ 20 min) <ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li> Solución de disociación celular Pre-caliente (preferiblemente uno que se inactiva a través de la dilución, no con suero), PBS estéril y medios de cultivo (Tabla 1). </li><li> Esterilizar la jeringa con una aguja de punta roma por el desmontaje y hervir las partes en agua durante 15 min. </li></ol> 2. Preparación de las células del EPR para inyección (~ 30 min a 1 hr) <ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li> Separe las células del EPR utilizando solución de disociación de células pre-calentado por 5-8 minutos a 37 ° C. </li><li> Raspe las células suavemente para liberar cualquier que todavía esté conectado. </li><li> Diluir las células con un gran volumen de medios de cultivo (llenar un tubo de 15 ml) para inactivar la solución de disociación y contarlos. </li><li> Centrifugar a 800 xg durante 5 min para sedimentar las células. </li><li> Resuspender las células a 200.000 células / l (para entregar 100.000 células en un volumen de 0,5 l) en PBS precalentado estéril y transferirlos en un tubo de microcentrífuga de 1,5 ml. </li><li> Opcionalmente, añada un marcador fluorescente transitoria de células vivas y se incuba a 37 ° C durante 30-45 min. </li><li> Cargar la jeringa con una aguja roma con 0,5 l de células. Inyectar las células tan pronto como sea posible. </li></ol> 3.-Sub retina Inyección (~ 5 min por inyección) NOTA: Si es posible, aprender la técnica con ratas albinas adultas desde los vasos del limbo son mucho más fáciles de visualizar. Inyectar solución verde cuando el aprendizaje rápido (antes de tratar de inyectar las células) para facilitar más fácilmente la visualización del sitio de la inyección. <ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li> Anestesiar el roedor. Utilice inyecciones intraperitoneales de 100 mg / ml de ketamina y 10 mg / ml de xilazina (20 l / 10 g cuerpo wocho) sobre la inhalación de isofluorano ya que es difícil de maniobrar el roedor y se inyecta en el ojo con el hocico en el inhalador. <ol><li> Asegúrese de que el animal se anestesió profundamente pellizcando una de sus patas. Si se estremece, esperar varios minutos y vuelva a intentarlo antes de comenzar la inyección subretiniana. </li></ol></li><li> Coloque el roedor a su lado para que el ojo que se inyecta se enfrenta el techo. </li><li> Bajo un microscopio de disección estirar suavemente la piel para que el ojo aparece ligeramente arriba de la toma (proptosis temporal) y se vuelve más accesible mediante la celebración de su cabeza con dos dedos justo por encima de la oreja y por su mandíbula y estirar suavemente la piel en paralelo a los párpados por lo que el ojo aparece ligeramente arriba de la toma (Ver Figura 1 C). No agarre el roedor demasiado cerca de la garganta. </li><li> Con una aguja previamente esterilizada desechable afilada 30 G, hacer un agujero justo debajo del limbo (si los vasos son golpeados, sangrado bE significativa y ser difícil de encontrar el agujero más adelante) y en un ángulo para evitar tocar la lente con la aguja (Figura 1D). Evite tocar la lente con la aguja (o roma) o la formación de cataratas inmediata va a producir. NOTA: Las inyecciones funcionan mejor con dos personas. De esta manera una persona puede pasar a la jeringa con la aguja roma a la persona que realiza la inyección después de haber creado el primer agujero con la aguja desechable afilado para mantener la atención en el dónde está el agujero. </li><li> Retraer la aguja desechable desde el ojo mientras se mantiene el agarre en la cabeza. Recuerde exactamente dónde está el agujero. </li><li> Después de cualquiera de montar la jeringa precargada con una aguja roma en un micromanipulador o sosteniéndolo con la mano, inserte la punta de la jeringa con la aguja roma a través del agujero, cuidando de nuevo de no tocar la lente, y empuje suavemente a través del ojo muy suavemente hasta sentir resistencia (Figura 1D). </li><li> Keeping todos los movimientos a un mínimo, inyectar cuidadosamente las células del EPR lentamente en el espacio subretiniano. NOTA: desprendimiento del EPR / retina se inducirá; esto es inevitable. Sin embargo, una inyección limpio minimiza el desprendimiento y mejora en gran medida las posibilidades de una reparación (Figura 1E). Cualquier movimientos exagerados pueden mover la aguja de nuevo en la retina, y movimientos laterales pueden dañar la retina. El uso de una bomba de inyección es opcional, pero permite una entrega muy precisa. </li><li> Retraer la jeringa lentamente. Aplicar hidratante gotas para los ojos para mantener el ojo hidratado. </li><li> Continúe controlando el animal hasta que recupera decúbito esternal. No deje de animales sin vigilancia o volver a una jaula con otros animales de alerta hasta que recupera decúbito esternal. </li></ol>

None of the authors have any commercial disclosures to declare.

En este artículo se describe un método relativamente simple para realizar inyecciones subretinianas de células del EPR en suspensión en ratas y ratones. El protocolo es fácil de aprender y más experiencia con la técnica se traducirá en un menor número de traumas (Figura 3, lo que representa uno de los mejores inyecciones), especialmente si se utiliza un micromanipulador (Figura 1A). Cualquier trauma se puede monitorizar in vivo con un sistema de cSLO y OCT (Fig...

The sensory retina is organized in functional tiers of neurons, glia, and endothelial cells. Photoreceptors at the back of the retina are activated by light; through phototransduction they convert photons into electrical signals that are refined by interneurons and transmitted to the visual cortex in the brain. Phototransduction cannot occur without the coordinated efforts of Mueller glia and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. RPE are organized in a monolayer directly behind the photoreceptors and perform multiple and diverse functions integral to photoreceptor function and homeostasis. In fact, RPE and photoreceptors are so co-dependent that they are considered to be one functional unit. Death or dysfunction of RPE results in devastating secondary effects on photoreceptors and is associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the elderly1,2.
While no cure has been discovered for AMD, several clinical studies have shown that RPE cell replacement may be a promising therapeutic option3-13. With the advent of stem cell technology, it is now possible to generate large numbers of RPE cells in vitro from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (hES and hiPS) that strongly resemble their somatic counterparts functionally and anatomically14-26. Stem cell-derived RPE have also been shown to function in vivo by multiple independent groups, including our own, to significantly slow retinal degeneration in rat and mouse lines with spontaneous retinal degeneration16,18,21,22,25,28,29. This combination of clinical and preclinical supporting evidence is so compelling that several clinical trials to prevent retinal degeneration using stem cell-derived RPE cells are now ongoing30,31. 
RPE can be readily derived from hES and/or hiPS and implanted in the subretinal space of rodents using various derivation and injection techniques32,33. (See Westenskow et al. for a methods paper in multimedia format demonstrating the directed differentiation protocol we employ)34. There are critical remaining questions regarding the safety, survival, and functional capacity of exogenously delivered RPE cells upon implantation, therefore the ability to perform subretinal injections in rodents is a critical skill16,18,21,29,36,37. The delivery of RPE is not trivial, and the field is divided on the most effective injection technique. The protocol we describe here is a simple and effective way to deliver of bolus of RPE cells subretinally, and was used in the first clinical trial for stem cell-derived RPE transplantation31. (The reader may also refer to another JoVE article by Eberle et al. for an alternative depiction of subretinal injections in rodents.38) 
The technique outlined in this manuscript cannot be visualized and trauma is unavoidable (as with any subretinal injection technique). It is performed by making a hole just under the limbus vessels and inserting a blunt needle along a transscleral route to inject a bolus of cells under the diametrically opposed retina. The person doing the injection will feel resistance as the blunt needle touches the retina. The cells may be directly visualized after the injection, however, and the degree of the induced retinal detachment can be determined by labeling the RPE cells with a transient fluorescent marker and detecting them with a confocal scanning ophthalmoscope (cSLO). An optical coherence tomography (OCT) system can also be used to monitor the trauma and easily identify the injection site.

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performing subretinal injections in rodents to deliver retinal pigment epithelium cells in suspension

La conversión de la luz en impulsos eléctricos se produce en la retina externa y se lleva a cabo en gran medida por conos y bastones fotorreceptores y células del epitelio pigmentario de la retina (RPE). RPE proporcionar apoyo crítico a los fotorreceptores y la muerte o la disfunción de las células del EPR es característico de la degeneración macular asociada a la edad (DMAE), la principal causa de la pérdida permanente de la visión en personas mayores de 55 años. Si bien no hay cura para la DMAE ha sido identificado, la implantación de RPE saludable en ojos enfermos puede llegar a ser un tratamiento efectivo, y un gran número de células del EPR puede generarse fácilmente a partir de células madre pluripotentes. Varias preguntas interesantes sobre la seguridad y eficacia de la entrega de células RPE todavía pueden ser examinadas en modelos animales, y los protocolos bien aceptados utilizados para inyectar RPE se han desarrollado. La técnica descrita aquí ha sido utilizado por varios grupos en diversos estudios y consiste en crear primero un agujero en el ojo con una aguja afilada. A continuación, una jeringa con una blunt aguja cargada con células se inserta a través del agujero y pasa a través del humor vítreo hasta que toque suavemente el RPE. El uso de este método de inyección, que es relativamente simple y requiere un mínimo de equipo, logramos la integración coherente y eficaz de las células RPE derivadas de células madre en entre el RPE host que impide cantidad significativa de degeneración de los fotorreceptores en modelos animales. Aunque no es parte del protocolo real, también se describe cómo determinar la extensión de la trauma inducido por la inyección, y cómo verificar que las células fueron inyectadas en el espacio subretiniano en el uso de técnicas de imagen in vivo. Finalmente, el uso de este protocolo no se limita a las células del RPE; puede utilizarse para inyectar cualquier compuesto o de células en el espacio subretiniano.

Podemos entregar una suspensión de células del EPR en el espacio subretiniano de roedores rápida y consistente con la técnica descrita en este manuscrito. Aunque no es necesario, traumas pueden minimizar en gran medida el uso de la configuración se muestra con un micromanipulador en la figura 1A &amp; B. Mantenga el roedor como se muestra en la Figura 1C para proptosis temporal. Los pasos son los mismos si se realiza con el micromanipulador oa mano; éstas se representan en los dib...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Performing Subretinal Injections in Rodents to Deliver Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells in Suspension at JoVE.com

Performing Subretinal Injections in Rodents to Deliver Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells in Suspension

Here we present a community accepted protocol in multimedia format for subretinally injecting a bolus of RPE cells in rats and mice. This approach can be used for determining rescue potentials, safety profiles, and survival capacities of grafted RPE cells upon implantation in animal models of retinal degeneration.

Realizar Subretinal Inyecciones en roedores administrar células de la retina epitelio pigmentario en Suspensión

The conversion of light into electrical impulses occurs in the outer retina and is accomplished largely by rod and cone photoreceptors and retinal pigment ...

performing-subretinal-injections-rodents-to-deliver-retinal-pigment

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

17.1K vistas.  The Scripps Research Institute. Here we present a community accepted protocol in multimedia format for subretinally injecting a bolus of RPE cells in rats and mice. This approach can be used for determining rescue potentials, safety profiles, and survival capacities of grafted RPE cells upon implantation in animal models of retinal degeneration.

Video: Performing Subretinal Injections in Rodents to Deliver Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells in Suspension

Subretinal Injection of Gene Therapy Vectors and Stem Cells in the Perinatal Mouse Eye

The loss of sight affects approximately 3.4 million people in the United States and is expected to increase in the upcoming years.1 Recently, gene therapy and stem cell transplantations have become key therapeutic tools for treating blindness resulting from retinal degenerative diseases. Several forms of autologous transplantation for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), such as iris pigment epithelial cell transplantation, have generated encouraging results, and human clinical trials have begun for other forms of gene and stem cell therapies.2 These include RPE65 gene replacement therapy in patients with Leber's congenital amaurosis and an RPE cell transplantation using human embryonic stem (ES) cells in Stargardt's disease.3-4 Now that there are gene therapy vectors and stem cells available for treating patients with retinal diseases, it is important to verify these potential therapies in animal models before applying them in human studies. The mouse has become an important scientific model for testing the therapeutic efficacy of gene therapy vectors and stem cell transplantation in the eye.5-8 In this video article, we present a technique to inject gene therapy vectors or stem cells into the subretinal space of the mouse eye while minimizing damage to the surrounding tissue.

This surgical technique illustrates the injection of gene therapy vectors and stem cells into the subretinal space of the mouse eye.

Inyección subretiniana de vectores de terapia génica y células madre en el ojo del ratón

The loss of sight affects approximately 3.4 million people in the United States and is expected to increase in the upcoming years.1 Recently, gene therapy ...

Investigación

Medicina

Retinal Detachment Model in Rodents by Subretinal Injection of Sodium Hyaluronate

Subretinal injection of sodium hyaluronate is a widely accepted method of inducing retinal detachment (RD). However, the height and duration of RD or the occurrence of subretinal hemorrhage can affect photoreceptor cell death in the detached retina. Hence, it is advantageous to create reproducible RDs without subretinal hemorrhage for evaluating photoreceptor cell death. We modified a previously reported method to create bullous and persistent RDs in a reproducible location with rare occurrence of subretinal hemorrhage. The critical step of this modified method is the creation of a self-sealing scleral incision, which can prevent leakage of sodium hyaluronate after injection into the subretinal space. To make the self-sealing scleral incision, a scleral tunnel is created, followed by scleral penetration into the choroid with a 30 G needle. Although choroidal hemorrhage may occur during this step, astriction with a surgical spear reduces the rate of choroidal hemorrhage. This method allows a more reproducible and reliable model of photoreceptor death in diseases that involve RD such as rhegmatogenous RD, retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy, central serous chorioretinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Creating experimental retinal detachments with a reproducible and sustained height of detachment, and without subretinal hemorrhage, is important for studying the pathophysiology of photoreceptor cell loss in retinal disease and evaluating potential therapeutic interventions. Here, we report such a method in detail.

Desprendimiento de Retina modelo en roedores por inyección subretiniana de Hialuronato de Sodio

Subretinal injection of sodium hyaluronate is a widely accepted method of inducing retinal detachment (RD). However, the height and duration of RD or the ...

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) contains a subset of exclusively tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) which have been shown to drive tumor initiation, metastasis and resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. Here we describe a specific methodology for culturing primary human pancreatic CSCs as tumor spheres in anchorage-independent conditions. Cells are grown in serum-free, non-adherent conditions in order to enrich for CSCs while their more differentiated progenies do not survive and proliferate during the initial phase following seeding of single cells. This assay can be used to estimate the percentage of CSCs present in a population of tumor cells. Both size (which can range from 35 to 250 micrometers) and number of tumor spheres formed represents CSC activity harbored in either bulk populations of cultured cancer cells or freshly harvested and digested tumors 1,2. Using this assay, we recently found that metformin selectively ablates pancreatic CSCs; a finding that was subsequently further corroborated by demonstrating diminished expression of pluripotency-associated genes/surface markers and reduced in vivo tumorigenicity of metformin-treated cells. As the final step for preclinical development we treated mice bearing established tumors with metformin and found significantly prolonged survival. Clinical studies testing the use of metformin in patients with PDAC are currently underway (e.g., NCT01210911, NCT01167738, and NCT01488552). Mechanistically, we found that metformin induces a fatal energy crisis in CSCs by enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and reducing mitochondrial transmembrane potential. In contrast, non-CSCs were not eliminated by metformin treatment, but rather underwent reversible cell cycle arrest. Therefore, our study serves as a successful example for the potential of in vitro sphere formation as a screening tool to identify compounds that potentially target CSCs, but this technique will require further in vitro and in vivo validation to eliminate false discoveries.

Pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) can be expanded in vitro using the anchorage-independent sphere culture technique, which represents a powerful tool to study CSC biology and can serve as the first step to develop novel CSC-targeting therapies. Here the methodology for expanding, analyzing and targeting of pancreatic CSCs is provided.

El estudio de cáncer de páncreas Tallo Características de las células para el desarrollo de nuevas estrategias de tratamiento

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) contains a subset of exclusively tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) which have been shown to drive tumor ...

A Step by Step Protocol for Subretinal Surgery in Rabbits

Age related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa, and other RPE related diseases are the most common causes for irreversible loss of vision in adults in industrially developed countries. RPE transplantation appears to be a promising therapy, as it may replace dysfunctional RPE, restore its function, and thereby vision.
Here we describe a method for transplanting a cultured RPE monolayer on a scaffold into the subretinal space (SRS) of rabbits. After vitrectomy xenotransplants were delivered into the SRS using a custom made shooter consisting of a 20-gauge metallic nozzle with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated plunger. The current technique evolved in over 150 rabbit surgeries over 6 years. Post-operative follow-up can be obtained using non-invasive and repetitive in vivo imaging such as spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) followed by perfusion-fixed histology.
The method has well-defined steps for easy learning and high success rate. Rabbits are considered a large eye animal model useful in preclinical studies for clinical translation. In this context rabbits are a cost-efficient and perhaps convenient alternative to other large eye animal models.

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) replacement strategies and gene-based therapy are considered for several retinal degenerative conditions. For clinical translation, large eye animal models are required to study surgical techniques applicable in patients. Here we present a rabbit model for subretinal surgery geared towards RPE transplantation, which is versatile and cost-efficient.

Un Paso a Paso Protocolo para la cirugía subretiniana en conejos

Age related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa, and other RPE related diseases are the most common causes for irreversible loss of vision in ...

Mechanical and Controlled PRP Injections in Patients Affected by Androgenetic Alopecia

23 patients (18 male and 5 female) aged 21-70 years who displayed male pattern hair loss (MPHL) in Stage 1 to Stage 5 as determined by the Norwood-Hamilton classification scale, and female pattern hair loss (FPHL) in Stage 1 to Stage 2 as determined by the Ludwig classification scale, were treated with non-activated autologous platelet-rich plasma (A-PRP). Autologous blood (55 mL) was harvested using sodium citrate as an anticoagulant. A-PRP (23 mL) was produced for all cases using a closed system according to the transfusion service protocol. Following centrifugation (260 x g for 10 min) the A-PRP was inserted in a laser light selector device, and after the centrifugation, 9 mL of A-PRP was collected.
The scalp of the patients affected by androgenetic alopecia (AGA) was divided into four areas (frontal, parietal, vertex, and occipital); local anesthesia was not performed. Interfollicular A-PRP injections (0.2 mL x cm2) were performed by controlled and mechanical injections scheduled at a depth of 5 mm using a medical injector gun. Treatment sessions were performed with a 30-day interval. For each patient, three treatment sessions were performed.
PRP was injected in the androgen-related areas of scalp affected by hair loss. Placebo (normal saline solution) was loaded in another syringe (10 mL) and injected on the adjacent side in a similar fashion.

This paper aims to describe the interfollicular autologous platelet-rich plasma injections (0.20 mL x cm2) in the scalp of 23 patients affected by androgenetic alopecia at a depth of 5 mm using a medical injector gun equipped with a 30 gauge needle, in three sessions.

Inyecciones de PRP mecánica y controlados en pacientes afectados por la Alopecia Androgenética

23 patients (18 male and 5 female) aged 21-70 years who displayed male pattern hair loss (MPHL) in Stage 1 to Stage 5 as determined by the ...

Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Model for Ischemic Retinal Diseases in Rodents

One of the commonly used models for ischemic retinopathies is the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model. Here we describe detailed protocols for the OIR model induction and its readouts in both mice and rats. Retinal neovascularization is induced in OIR by exposing rodent pups either to hyperoxia (mice) or alternating levels of hyperoxia and hypoxia (rats). The primary readouts of these models are the size of neovascular (NV) and avascular (AVA) areas in the retina. This preclinical in vivo model can be used to evaluate the efficacy of potential anti-angiogenic drugs or to address the role of specific genes in the retinal angiogenesis by using genetically manipulated animals. The model has some strain and vendor specific variation in the OIR induction which should be taken into consideration when designing the experiments.

Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) can be used to model ischemic retinal diseases such as retinopathy of prematurity and proliferative diabetic retinopathy and to serve as a model for proof-of-concept studies in evaluating antiangiogenic drugs for neovascular diseases. OIR induces robust and reproducible neovascularization in the retina that can be quantified.

Modelo de retinopatía inducida por oxígeno para enfermedades retinianas isquémicas en roedores

One of the commonly used models for ischemic retinopathies is the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model. Here we describe detailed protocols for the OIR ...

Induction and Analysis of Oxidative Stress in Sleeping Beauty Transposon-Transfected Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in several degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a pathology that affects ~30 million patients worldwide. It leads to a decrease in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-synthesized neuroprotective factors, e.g., pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), followed by the loss of RPE cells, and eventually photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. We hypothesize that the reconstitution of the neuroprotective and neurogenic retinal environment by the subretinal transplantation of transfected RPE cells overexpressing PEDF and GM-CSF has the potential to prevent retinal degeneration by mitigating the effects of oxidative stress, inhibiting inflammation, and supporting cell survival. Using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system (SB100X) human RPE cells have been transfected with the PEDF and GM-CSF genes and shown stable gene integration, long-term gene expression, and protein secretion using qPCR, western blot, ELISA, and immunofluorescence. To confirm the functionality and the potency of the PEDF and GM-CSF secreted by the transfected RPE cells, we have developed an in vitro assay to quantify the reduction of H2O2-induced oxidative stress on RPE cells in culture. Cell protection was evaluated by analyzing cell morphology, density, intracellular level of glutathione, UCP2 gene expression, and cell viability. Both, transfected RPE cells overexpressing PEDF and/or GM-CSF and cells non-transfected but pretreated with PEDF and/or GM-CSF (commercially available or purified from transfected cells) showed significant antioxidant cell protection compared to non-treated controls. The present H2O2-model is a simple and effective approach to evaluate the antioxidant effect of factors that may be effective to treat AMD or similar neurodegenerative diseases.

Induction and Analysis of Oxidative Stress in Sleeping Beauty Transposon-Transfected Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

We present a protocol for the development and use ofan oxidative stress-model by treating retinal pigment epithelial cells with H2O2, analyzing cell morphology, viability, density, glutathione, and UCP-2 level. It is a useful model to investigate the antioxidant effect of proteins secreted by transposon-transfected cells to treat neuroretinal degeneration.

Inducción y análisis del estrés oxidativo en células epiteliales pigmentarias de la retina humana transfectadas por transposones de la bella durmiente

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in several degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a pathology that affects ~30 ...

Electroporation-Based Genetic Modification of Primary Human Pigment Epithelial Cells Using the Sleeping Beauty Transposon System

Our increasingly aging society leads to a growing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. So far, the pathological mechanisms are inadequately understood, thus impeding the establishment of defined treatments. Cell-based additive gene therapies for the increased expression of a protective factor are considered as a promising option to medicate neurodegenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We have developed a method for the stable expression of the gene encoding pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), which is characterized as a neuroprotective and anti-angiogenic protein in the nervous system, into the genome of primary human pigment epithelial (PE) cells using the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system. Primary PE cells were isolated from human donor eyes and maintained in culture. After reaching confluence, 1 x 104 cells were suspended in 11 &#181;L of resuspension buffer and combined with 2 &#181;L of a purified solution containing 30 ng of hyperactive SB (SB100X) transposase plasmid and 470 ng of PEDF transposon plasmid. Genetic modification was carried out with a capillary electroporation system using the following parameters: two pulses with a voltage of 1,100 V and a width of 20 ms. Transfected cells were transferred into culture plates containing medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum; antibiotics and antimycotics were added with the first medium exchange. Successful transfection was demonstrated in independently performed experiments. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) showed the increased expression of the PEDF transgene. PEDF secretion was significantly elevated and remained stable, as evaluated by immunoblotting, and quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SB100X-mediated transfer allowed for a stable PEDF gene integration into the genome of PE cells and ensured the continuous secretion of PEDF, which is critical for the development of a cell-based gene addition therapy to treat AMD or other retinal degenerative diseases. Moreover, analysis of the integration profile of the PEDF transposon into human PE cells indicated an almost random genomic distribution.

We have developed a protocol to transfect primary human pigment epithelial cells by electroporation with the gene encoding pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) using the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system. Successful transfection was demonstrated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), immunoblotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Modificación genética basada en electroporación de células epiteliales pigmentarias humanas primarias utilizando el sistema de transposones de la Bella Durmiente

Our increasingly aging society leads to a growing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. So far, the pathological mechanisms are inadequately ...

Retinal Pigment Epithelium Transplantation in a Non-human Primate Model for Degenerative Retinal Diseases

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) transplantation holds great promise for the treatment of inherited and acquired retinal degenerative diseases. These conditions include retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and advanced forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), such as geographic atrophy (GA). Together, these disorders represent a significant proportion of currently untreatable blindness globally. These unmet medical needs have generated heightened academic interest in developing methods of RPE replacement. Among the animal models commonly utilized for preclinical testing of therapeutics, the non-human primate (NHP) is the only animal model that has a macula. As it shares this anatomical similarity with the human eye, the NHP eye is an important and appropriate preclinical animal model for the development of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) such as RPE cell therapy.
This manuscript describes a method for the submacular transplantation of an RPE monolayer, cultured on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) cell carrier, underneath the macula onto a surgically created RPE wound in immunosuppressed NHPs. The fovea-the central avascular portion of the macula-is the site of the greatest mechanical weakness during the transplantation. Foveal trauma will occur if the initial subretinal fluid injection generates an excessive force on the retina. Hence, slow injection under perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) vitreous tamponade is recommended with a dual-bore subretinal injection cannula at low intraocular pressure (IOP) settings to create a retinal bleb. 
Pretreatment with an intravitreal plasminogen injection to release parafoveal RPE-photoreceptor adhesions is also advised. These combined strategies can reduce the likelihood of foveal tears when compared to conventional techniques. The NHP is a key animal model in the preclinical phase of RPE cell therapy development. This protocol addresses the technical challenges associated with the delivery of RPE cellular therapy in the NHP eye.

The non-human primate (NHP) is an ideal model for studying human retinal cellular therapeutics due to the anatomical and genetic similarities. This manuscript describes a method for submacular transplantation of retinal pigment epithelial cells in the NHP eye and strategies to prevent intraoperative complications associated with macular manipulation.

Trasplante de epitelio pigmentario retiniano en un modelo de primate no humano para enfermedades degenerativas de la retina

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) transplantation holds great promise for the treatment of inherited and acquired retinal degenerative diseases. These ...

Isolation of Intrapulmonary Artery and Smooth Muscle Cells to Investigate Vascular Responses

The intrapulmonary artery (IPA) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from rat lungs can be used to study the underlying mechanisms of vasoconstriction and vasorelaxation. After isolating the IPA and VSMCs, the characteristics of vascular responses in physiological and pathological conditions can be assessed in the absence of extrinsic factors such as nerve signals, hormones, cytokines, etc. Thus, the IPA and VSMCs serve as excellent models for studying vascular physiology/pathophysiology, along with various experimental investigations, such as modulation by pharmacological agents, patch-clamp electrophysiological analysis, calcium imaging, etc. Here, we have used a technique for isolating the IPA to investigate vascular responses in an organ bath setup. IPA segments were mounted on the organ bath chamber via intraluminal wires and stimulated by various pharmacological agents. The changes in IPA vascular tone (i.e., vasoconstriction and vasorelaxation), were recorded using an isometric force transducer and physiological data analysis software program. We implemented several experimental protocols, which can be adapted to investigate the mechanisms of vasorelaxation/vasoconstriction for studying the pharmacological activities of phytochemical or synthetic drugs. The protocols can also be used to evaluate drugs&#39; roles in modulating various diseases, including pulmonary arterial hypertension. The IPA model allows us to investigate the concentration-response curve, which is crucial in assessing drugs&#39; pharmacodynamic parameters.

Vascular responses of arterial pulmonary circulation can be explored using intrapulmonary artery (IPA) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The present study describes the isolation of IPA in detail and the protocols used for investigating vasorelaxation in response to physiological stimuli.