Canonical/β-catenin Wnt pathway activation improves retinal pigmented epithelium derivation from human embryonic stem cells.

TitleCanonical/β-catenin Wnt pathway activation improves retinal pigmented epithelium derivation from human embryonic stem cells.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsLeach LL, Buchholz DE, Nadar VP, Lowenstein SE, Clegg DO
JournalInvest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
Volume56
Issue2
Pagination1002-13
Date Published2015 Feb
ISSN1552-5783
Keywordsbeta Catenin, Cell Differentiation, Cells, Cultured, Embryonic Stem Cells, Eye Proteins, Flow Cytometry, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Macular Degeneration, Nerve Growth Factors, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Retinal Pigment Epithelium, RNA, Serpins, Wnt Signaling Pathway
Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to better understand the role canonical/β-catenin Wnt signaling plays in the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), with the goal of improving methods for derivation.

METHODS: Fluorescent reporters were generated to monitor RPE differentiating from hESCs by using a previously described 14-day derivation protocol. Reporters were used to test the effects of the canonical/β-catenin Wnt pathway agonist CHIR99021 on differentiating RPE. Cells derived from differentiation studies were characterized by lineage-specific transcription factor expression, morphology, pigmentation, and function. The RPE derivation efficiency was determined from percentage positive PMEL17 expression.

RESULTS: Fluorescent reporters mimicked expression of endogenous genes during 14-day differentiation to RPE. Analysis of Wnt pathway gene expression showed that the pathway components are expressed in differentiating RPE cells. Addition of CHIR99021 improved RPE derivation based on morphology, expression of RPE-specific lineage markers, and genes involved in melanogenesis. Additionally, expression of the neural retina marker CHX10 was suppressed during differentiation with CHIR99021. Addition of soluble WNT3A, but not WNT5A, had the same result. The CHIR99021-modified protocol yielded cell populations that were 97.77% ± 0.1% positive for the RPE marker PMEL17 at day 14. After cells were expanded to passage 3, they were shown to express RPE markers, carry out phagocytosis of rod outer segments, and secrete pigment epithelium-derived factor apically and vascular endothelial growth factor basally.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated the importance of canonical/β-catenin Wnt signaling in RPE differentiation and showed that manipulating the pathway significantly improves RPE derivation from hESC.

DOI10.1167/iovs.14-15835
Alternate JournalInvest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.
PubMed ID25604686