Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Progenitor Cells Promote Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival and Axon Recovery in an Optic Nerve Compression Animal Model.

ABSTRACT: Human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) have the potential to recover from nerve injury. We previously reported that human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PSCs) have neuroprotective effects. To evaluate the potential benefit of NPCs, we compared them to PSCs using R28 cells under hypoxic conditions and a rat model of optic nerve injury. NPCs and PSCs (2 × 106 cells) were injected into the subtenon space. After 1, 2, and 4 weeks, we examined changes in target proteins in the retina and optic nerve. NPCs significantly induced vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegf) compared to age-matched shams and PSC groups at 2 weeks; they also induced neurofilaments in the retina compared to the sham group at 4 weeks. In addition, the expression of brain-derived neur

SUBMITTER: Park M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8622638 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature