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Trabecular Meshwork Stem Cells

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Regenerative Biology of the Eye

Part of the book series: Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine ((STEMCELL))

Abstract

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The major risk factor for most glaucoma patients, and the focus of treatment, is increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Reduced cellularity within the trabecular meshwork (TM) is observed with age and correlates with increased outflow resistance and elevated IOP. Long-term augmentation of aqueous humor outflow facility to control IOP may be an important avenue for the prevention of glaucomatous optic nerve damage.

In this chapter, we review the anatomy and cells of the TM, describe the methods to isolate and identify the TM stem cells (TMSCs), and introduce the characteristics of TMSCs and applications of TMSCs for glaucoma research and possible clinical applications. We have found that stem cells from the TM are multipotent with the ability to differentiate to several cell types including phagocytic TM-like cells. After injection into normal mouse anterior chamber, human TMSCs are able to home to mouse TM tissue without obvious inflammatory response. The ability of TMSCs to home to the TM region and differentiate into phagocytic TM cells suggests a potential of stem cell-based therapy for reconstruction of the TM and aqueous outflow facility for glaucoma treatment. TMSC studies may provide pharmacological approaches for TM tissue reconstruction.

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Abbreviations

ABCG2:

ATP-binding cassette transporter G family member 2

AQP1:

Aquaporin 1

BrdU:

Bromodeoxyuridine

CHI3L1:

Chitinase 3-like 1

DMEM:

Dulbecco’s modified eagle’s medium

DMEM/F12:

Dulbecco’s modified eagle’s medium/nutrient mixture F-12

FACS:

Fluorescence activated cell sorting

FBS:

Fetal bovine serum

IOP:

Intraocular pressure

JCT:

Juxtacanalicular connective tissue

MGP:

Matrix Gla protein

POAG:

Primary open angle glaucoma

SC:

Schlemm’s canal

SCGM:

Stem cell growth medium

SP:

Side population

TM:

Trabecular meshwork

TMSC:

Trabecular meshwork stem cells

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Acknowledgement 

The work was supported by an anonymous philanthropic donation to YD, National Institutes of Health Grant P30-EY008098, Eye and Ear Foundation (Pittsburgh, PA) and Research to Prevent Blindness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Eye Center, The Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration of UPMC, The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Hongmin Yun, Joel S. Schuman & Yiqin Du

Authors
  1. Hongmin Yun
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  2. Joel S. Schuman
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  3. Yiqin Du
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Correspondence to Yiqin Du .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Alice Pébay

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Yun, H., Schuman, J.S., Du, Y. (2014). Trabecular Meshwork Stem Cells. In: Pébay, A. (eds) Regenerative Biology of the Eye. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0787-8_10

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