Human pluripotent stem cells for the modelling of retinal pigment epithelium homeostasis and disease: A review

Abstract

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which include induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells, are powerful tools for studying human development, physiology and disease, including those affecting the retina. Cells from selected individuals, or specific genetic backgrounds, can be differentiated into distinct cell types allowing the modelling of diseases in a dish for therapeutic development. hPSC-derived retinal cultures have already been used to successfully model retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration for various retinal diseases including monogenic conditions and complex disease such as age-related macular degeneration. Here, we will review the current knowledge gained in understanding the molecular events involved in retinal disease using hPSC-derived retinal models, in particular RPE models. We will provide examples of various conditions to illustrate the scope of applications associated with the use of hPSC-derived RPE models.

Women in ophthalmology

“…Hall, Paull, Pébay and Lidgerwood 15 provided a clinically relevant assessment of the application of human pluripotent stem cell‐derived retinal models for studying diseases driven by retinal pigment epithelial cell pathology. They covered specific inherited retinal diseases, plus the more aetiologically complex age‐related macular degeneration.…”