Saini Janmeet S, Temple Sally, Stern Jeffrey H
Neural Stem Cell Institute, Regenerative Research Foundation, One Discovery Drive, 12144, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, 12201, Albany, NY, USA.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2016;854:557-62. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-17121-0_74.
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a pigmented cellular monolayer that supports photoreceptor cells located in the overlying neural retina. The RPE is critical for vision and its dysfunction results in numerous pathologies, several with limited available disease-altering strategies. Regeneration of the retina from RPE is robust in lower vertebrates, but is not normally exhibited in mammals. We recently found that a subpopulation of human RPE cells can be stimulated in culture to generate multipotent self-renewing cells-the RPE stem cell (RPESC). RPESC can be expanded to generate RPE progeny that are a potential source for cell replacement therapy. Alternatively, RPESC can produce mesenchymal progeny which serve as a disease model of epiretinal membrane formation. Yet another potential application of RPESCs is activation within the eye to awaken dormant endogenous repair.
视网膜色素上皮（RPE）是一层有色素的细胞单层，它支持位于上方神经视网膜中的光感受器细胞。RPE对视觉至关重要，其功能障碍会导致多种病症，其中一些病症可用的疾病改变策略有限。在低等脊椎动物中，RPE可强有力地再生视网膜，但在哺乳动物中通常不会出现这种情况。我们最近发现，培养中的一部分人类RPE细胞可被刺激产生多能自我更新细胞——RPE干细胞（RPESC）。RPESC可扩增以产生RPE后代，这些后代是细胞替代疗法的潜在来源。或者，RPESC可产生间充质后代，作为视网膜前膜形成的疾病模型。RPESC的另一个潜在应用是在眼内激活，以唤醒休眠的内源性修复。
