IPSC-derived ITGA6-positive cells restore aqueous humor outflow in glaucoma eyes.

ABSTRACT: Decreased trabecular meshwork (TM) cellularity is a critical pathogenic cause of primary open-angle glaucoma, yet therapies to regenerate the decellularized TM are very limited. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived TM-like cells (iPSC-TM) can efficiently restore aqueous humor outflow. Here, we conducted a multi-modal RNA sequencing analysis to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying TM regeneration. Our clustering analysis identified a group of iPSC-derived alpha6 integrin-positive (iPSC-ITGA6⁺) cells with a distinct transcriptome that wasn't observed in primary TM (pTM) cells. These iPSC-ITGA6⁺ cells not only stimulate pTM proliferation but also facilitate the repopulation of the TM and Schlemm's canal in glaucoma, with a much higher efficiency than other i

SUBMITTER: Feng P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12559184 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature