Experimental Study of the Biological Properties of Human Embryonic Stem Cell–Derived Retinal Progenitor Cells

Retinal degenerative diseases are among the leading causes of blindness worldwide, and cell replacement is considered as a promising therapeutic. However, the resources of seed cells are scarce. To further explore this type of therapy, we adopted a culture system that could harvest a substantial quantity of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) within a relatively short period of time. Furthermore, we transplanted these RPCs into the subretinal spaces of Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats. We quantified the thickness of the treated rats’ outer nuclear layers (ONLs) and explored the visual function via electroretinography (ERG). It was found that the differentiated cells expressed RPC markers and photoreceptor progenitor markers. The transplanted RPCs survived for at least 12 weeks, resulting in beneficial effects on the morphology of the host retina, and led to a significant improvement in the visual function of the treated animals. These therapeutic effects suggest that the hESCs-derived RPCs could delay degeneration of the retina and partially restore visual function.