A comparison study for differentiation between human fetal retinal progenitor cells and brain neural stem cells in vitro

Abstract

Investigating the potential of differentiation of human fetal retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs) and brain neural stem cells (hBNSCs) in vitro. hRPCs and hBNSCs were isolated from human fetuses (8-12 weeks of gestation) and cultured in serum-free DMEM/F12 culture medium with N2 supplement, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or culture medium with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) but without EGF and bFGF. Immunocytochemical and immunofluorescence studies were conducted for identification of neural stem cells, retinal progenitors or the subtypes of neurons, astrocytes, retinal ganglion cells and rod photoreceptors with the specific antibodies for Nestin, Pax6, Map2, GFAP, Thy-1 and Rhodopsin, respectively. Both hRPCs and hBNSCs could proliferate and differentiate in DMEM/F12 + N2 with or without 10% FBS and expressed specific markers of immature neuroepithelial cells, retinal progenitors, mature neurons, astrocytes, retinal ganglion cells and rod photoreceptors. hBNSCs easily attached, spread out longer neurites and to form a network when cultured with serum contained medium. hRPCs were more difficult to attach and had only short dendrites. Both hRPCs and hBNSCs can differentiate into retinal specific cell types in vitro. The adherent, migration and differential capacity of hRPCs and hBNSCs are different when these cells are induced by the serum-contained culture medium.