A simplified method for producing human lens epithelial cells and light-focusing micro-lenses from pluripotent stem cells

Exp Eye Res. 2021 Jan:202:108317. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108317. Epub 2020 Oct 29.

Abstract

Here we describe a modified method for harvesting tens-of-millions of human lens epithelial-like cells from differentiated pluripotent stem cell cultures. To assess the utility of this method, we analysed the lens cell population via: light microscopy; single cell RNA-sequencing and gene ontology analyses; formation of light-focusing micro-lenses; mass spectrometry; and electron microscopy. Both individually and collectively, the data indicate this simplified harvesting method provides a large-scale source of stem cell-derived lens cells and micro-lenses for investigating human lens and cataract formation.

Keywords: Bioinformatics; Cataract; Human; Lens; Lens epithelial cell; Micro-lens; Pluripotent stem cell; ROR1; Single cell RNA-Sequencing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Separation / methods*
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lens, Crystalline / cytology*
  • Lens, Crystalline / metabolism
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Microscopy
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptors / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA

Substances

  • ROR1 protein, human
  • Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptors