Modeling of photoreceptor donor-host interaction following transplantation reveals a role for Crx, Müller Glia, and Rho/ROCK signaling in neurite outgrowth

ELS Tsai, A Ortin-Martinez, A Gurdita, L Comanita… - Stem Cells, 2019 - academic.oup.com
ELS Tsai, A Ortin-Martinez, A Gurdita, L Comanita, N Yan, S Smiley, V Delplace
Stem Cells, 2019academic.oup.com
The goal of photoreceptor transplantation is to establish functional synaptic connectivity
between donor cells and second-order neurons in the host retina. There is, however, limited
evidence of donor-host photoreceptor connectivity post-transplant. In this report, we
investigated the effect of the host retinal environment on donor photoreceptor neurite
outgrowth in vivo and identified a neurite outgrowth-promoting effect of host Crx (−/−) retinas
following transplantation of purified photoreceptors expressing green fluorescent protein …
Abstract
The goal of photoreceptor transplantation is to establish functional synaptic connectivity between donor cells and second-order neurons in the host retina. There is, however, limited evidence of donor-host photoreceptor connectivity post-transplant. In this report, we investigated the effect of the host retinal environment on donor photoreceptor neurite outgrowth in vivo and identified a neurite outgrowth-promoting effect of host Crx(/−) retinas following transplantation of purified photoreceptors expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). To investigate the noncell autonomous factors that influence donor cell neurite outgrowth in vitro, we established a donor-host coculture system using postnatal retinal aggregates. Retinal cell aggregation is sensitive to several factors, including plate coating substrate, cell density, and the presence of Müller glia. Donor photoreceptors exhibit motility in aggregate cultures and can engraft into established aggregate structures. The neurite outgrowth-promoting phenotype observed in Crx(−/−) recipients in vivo is recapitulated in donor-host aggregate cocultures, demonstrating the utility of this surrogate in vitro approach. The removal of Müller glia from host aggregates reduced donor cell neurite outgrowth, identifying a role for this cell type in donor-host signaling. Although disruption of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in aggregates had no effect on the neurite outgrowth of donor photoreceptors, disruption of Rho/ROCK signaling enhanced outgrowth. Collectively, these data show a novel role of Crx, Müller glia, and Rho/ROCK signaling in controlling neurite outgrowth and provide an accessible in vitro model that can be used to screen for factors that regulate donor-host connectivity. Stem Cells  2019;37:529–541
Significance Statement
Poor photoreceptor connectivity in transplants is an unresolved issue. Results of the study show that photoreceptor neurite extension is regulated by Rho/ROCK signaling and report the use of primary retinal cultures as an in vitro platform to investigate donor photoreceptor neurite outgrowth. The results could be used in future work to enhance the connectivity of transplanted photoreceptors.
Oxford University Press