Published online Nov 26, 2021. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i11.1783
Peer-review started: May 5, 2021
First decision: June 23, 2021
Revised: June 25, 2021
Accepted: October 15, 2021
Article in press: October 15, 2021
Published online: November 26, 2021
Based on their multipotent differentiation ability, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely investigated in the last two decades in order to develop cell-based therapeutic strategies for a variety of human pathologies including eye disease.
In many cases, available therapeutic approaches are not satisfactory to counteract the loss of retinal cells. Thus, administration of pre-differentiated MSCs may produce beneficial outcomes and improve the quality of life of patients suffering ocular diseases.
The aim of the investigation was to obtain a neural-like differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) using a serum-free culture medium, resembling the physiologic eye microenvironment.
A serum-free conditioned medium (CM) from ARPE-19, a cell line derived from human retinal pigment epithelium, has been used to promote ASC neural differentiation. Immunofluorescence and western blot analysis were used to evaluate modifications of typical neural marker expression: Nestin, neuronal specific enolase, protein gene product 9.5, and glial fibrillary acidic protein.
Neural marker expression was increased in a time-dependent manner. In fact, CM effects were particularly evident after 8 d of treatment. Moreover, cell proliferation and viability were favored by the presence of ARPE-19 CM.
The method adopted in the present study provided encouraging results to develop cell-based strategies for ocular diseases characterized by neural cell loss or degeneration.
At the next stage of the study, neural-like pre-differentiated ASCs would be implanted in rodent models of ocular diseases to verify their survival rate and possible beneficial effects.