Topic: retinal organoids

Thomas Reh and Juliette Wohlschlegel discuss their research on converting human Müller glia into retinal neurons with host Martin Pera. The conversation traces how regeneration in fish and frogs motivated experiments in mammals, then examines genetic reprogramming of cells derived from human fetal tissue or retinal organoids. Their study of ASCL1-induced neurogenesis provides a basis for discussing the remaining biological and translational challenges of retinal regeneration. The work concerns experimental cellular models and does not establish a treatment for vision loss.

Robert J Johnston joins Jonathan McCrea to explain retinal organoids and how researchers grow these laboratory models of the retina. Drawing on his work at Johns Hopkins University, Johnston discusses what the models can offer basic and translational research, how industry views their use, and whether they could become a standard approach for studying retinal disease. The conversation examines the research potential of lab-grown retinas rather than presenting them as an established treatment.

The vertebrate retina is an important outpost of the central nervous system, responsible for the perception and transmission of visual information. It consists of five different types of neurons that reproducibly laminate into three layers, a process of crucial importance for the organ’s function. Unsurprisingly, impaired fate decisions as well as impaired neuronal migrations and lamination lead to impaired retinal function. However, how processes are coordinated at the cellular and tissue level and how variable or robust retinal formation is, is currently still underexplored. In my lab, we a

Our research focuses on the elucidation of the PRPF31 gene mutation's impact on retinal cells, specifically within the context of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), employing human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). These hiPSCs, sourced from a patient with severe RP harboring the PRPF31 mutation and a healthy control, were differentiated into retinal organoids (ROs) using a refined protocol. The study's methodology encompassed a range of techniques including flow cytometry for assessing pluripotency, immunofluorescence and qPCR for progenitor and photoreceptor-specific markers, microelectrode a

Viral infection-induced inflammation during pregnancy has been associated to malformations of the fetal brain. Microglia, the brain-resident macrophages, respond to inflammatory signals and at the same time are actively involved in various aspects of brain development. We know surprisingly little about how microglia balance the different demands during human embryonic development and which functional consequences an inflammatory environment has on neuronal organization and connectivity. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) provide a unique opportunity to investigate this relationship.H

The intricate development of the visual system involves spatial and temporal coordination, especially the projection of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons to post-synaptic targets in the brain. Although retinal organoids (ROs) have mimicked retinal development, their limitations in modeling RGC projections prompted the creation of in vitro assembloids integrating retinal and brain organoids. This study aims to elucidate the projection patterns of the human visual system of inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD) subjects and how this might influence RGC development and survival while providing answer

Tau, a microtubule-associated protein pivotal for neuronal integrity, is actively involved in retinal development, regulating growth, differentiation, and maturation processes. Mutations in tau can lead to misfolded protein and fibrils formation, disrupting cellular processes and damaging retinal tissue. Previous studies have identified pathological hallmarks of tauopathies, such as Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), in the retina of patients even in the early stage of pathology. However, the precise molecular mechanisms and the direct sequence of events underlying this process remain poorly under