Stimulation of C-Kit⁺ Retinal Progenitor Cells by Stem Cell Factor Confers Protection Against Retinal Degeneration.

ABSTRACT: C-kit/CD117, expressed in a series of tissue-specific progenitor cells, plays an important role in tissue regeneration and tissue homeostasis. We previously demonstrated that organoid-derived c-kit⁺ retinal progenitor cells can facilitate the restoration of degenerated retina. Meanwhile, we have identified a population of endogenous c-kit⁺ cells in retinas of adult mouse. However, the exact role of these cells in retinal degeneration remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that stimulation of endogenous c-kit⁺ cells by stem cell factor (SCF) conferred protection against retinal degeneration. Retinal degeneration was induced by intravitreal injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). NMDA challenge increased the total number of c-kit⁺ cells in the re

SUBMITTER: Chen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9008784 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature