The potential use of in vitro-expanded precursor cells or cell lines in repair includes transplantation of such cells for cell replacement purposes and the activation of host cells to provide "self-repair." Recently, we have reported that cells from the brain-derived cell line RN33B (derived from the embryonic rat medullary raphe and immortalized through retroviral transduction of the temperature-sensitive mutant of the simian virus 40 ([SV40] large T-antigen) survive for at least 4 weeks, integrate, and differentiate after subretinal grafting to normal adult rats. Here, we demonstrate that grafts of these cells survive for at least 4 months after subretinal transplantation to adult, normal immunosuppressed rats. Implanted cells integrate into the retinal pigment epithelium and the inner retinal layers, and the anterior part of the optic nerve. In addition, the RN33B cells migrate within the retina, occupying the whole retina from one eccentricity to the other. A large fraction of the grafted cells differentiate into glial cells, as shown by double labeling of the reporter genes LacZ or green fluorescent protein, and several glial markers, including oligodendrocytes. However, the cells did not differentiate into retinal neurons, judging from their lack of expression of retinal neuronal phenotypic markers. A significant number of the implanted cells in the host retina were in a proliferative stage, judging from proliferative cell nuclear antigen and SV40 large T-antigen immunohistochemistry. To conclude, the cells survived, integrated, and migrated over long distances within the host. Therefore, our results may be advantageous for future design of therapeutic strategies, since such cells may have the potential of being a source of, for example, growth factor delivery in experimental models of retinal degeneration.
Neural precursor cells transplanted to adult retina can integrate into the host. This is especially true when the neural precursor rat cell line RN33B is used. This cell line carries the reporter genes LacZ and green fluorescent protein (GFP). In grafted rat eyes, RN33B cells are localized from one eccentricity to the other of the host retina. In the present study, whole-mounted retinas were analyzed to obtain a more appropriate evaluation of the amount of transgene-expressing cells and the migratory capacity of these cells 3 and 8 weeks posttransplantation. Quantification was made of the number of β β-galactosidase-and GFP-expressing cells with a semiautomatized stereological cell counting system. With the same system, delineation of the distribution area of the grafted cells was also performed. At 3 weeks, 68% of the grafted eyes contained marker-expressing cells, whereas at 8 weeks only 35% of the eyes contained such cells. Counting of marker-expressing cells demonstrated a lower number of transgene-expressing cells at 3 weeks compared with 8 weeks post-transplantation. The distribution pattern of marker gene-expressing cells revealed cells occupying up to 21% at 3 weeks and up to 68% at 8 weeks of the entire host retina postgrafting. The precursor cells survived well in the adult retina although the most striking feature of the RN33B cell line was its extraordinary migratory capacity. This capability could be useful if precursor cells are used to deliver necessary genes or gene products that need to be distributed over a large diseased area.
As previously reported, the brain-derived precursor cell line RN33B has a great capacity to migrate when transplanted to adult brain or retina. This cell line is immortalized with the SV40 large T-antigen and carries the reporter gene LacZ and the green fluorescent protein GFP. In the present study, the precursor cells were transplanted to the subretinal space of adult rats and investigated early after grafting. The purpose was to demonstrate the migration of the grafted cells from the subretinal space into the retina and the glial cell response of the host retina. Detachment caused by the transplantation method was persistent up to 4 days after transplantation, and then reattachment occurred. The grafted cells were shown to migrate in between the photoreceptor cells before entering into the plexiform layers. Molecules involved in migration of immature neuronal cells as the polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) and the collapsing response-mediated protein 4 (TUC-4) was found in the plexiform layers of the host retina, but not in the grafted cells. The expression of the intermediate filaments GFAP, vimentin, and nestin was intensely upregulated immediately after transplantation. A less pronounced upregulation was observed on sham-operated animals. In summary, the RN33B cell line migrated promptly posttransplantation and settled preferably into the plexiform layers of the retina, the same layers where the migration cues PSA-NCAM and TUC-4 were established. In addition, both the transplantation method per se and the implanted cells caused an intense glial cell response by the host retina.
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