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Editors Selection IGR 11-2

Basic Research: From stem cell to RG-like cells

Comment by Khang Zhang on:

23428 In vitro differentiation of retinal ganglion-like cells from embryonic stem cell derived neural progenitors, Jagatha B; Divya MS; Sanalkumar R et al., Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2009; 380: 230-235

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The topic of retinal ganglion cell generation from embryonic stem cells has gained interest due to the possibility of cell transplantation as a treatment for glaucoma. Jagatha et al. (572) have made an attempt to differentiate mouse embryonic stem cells into retinal ganglion cells. Their conclusions rely on the fact that their differentiated cells express markers specific for retinal ganglion cells. However, the number of cells expressing those markers (2%) is very low, and it begs the question of whether this differentiation is spontaneous or directed. During data analysis, confidence intervals and statistical significance are shown. However, units used are sometimes arbitrary. The best control used is that provided against Brn3 promoter activity, where differentiated cells were compared to cells not exposed to FGF2 at any point in time. Finally, the researchers only transplanted neural progenitor cells, not their differentiated retinal ganglion-like cells, providing no evidence that the differentiated cells have the potential for transplantation.

In summary, the research presented has proper tests to show expression of retinal ganglion cell markers in differentiated cells by their protocol. Their data on Brn3 promoter expression helps confirm previous research that FGF2 may be involved in retinal ganglion cell differentiation. However, the yield of the differentiated retinal ganglion-like cells and the lack of data to show ability and function of transplantation cause this paper to provide minimal impact on current research.

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