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Diabetic keratopathy (DK), a significant complication of diabetes, often leads to corneal damage and vision impairment. Effective models are essential for studying DK pathogenesis and evaluating potential therapeutic interventions. This study developed a novel biomimetic full-thickness corneal model for the first time, incorporating corneal epithelial cells, stromal cells, endothelial cells, and nerves to simulate DK conditions in vitro. By exposing the model to a high-glucose (HG) environment, the pathological characteristics of DK, including nerve bundle disintegration, compromised barrier integrity, increased inflammation, and oxidative stress, were successfully replicated. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that HG downregulated genes associated with axon and synapse formation while upregulating immune response and oxidative stress pathways, with C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 5 (CCL5) identified as a key hub gene in DK pathogenesis. The therapeutic effects of Lycium barbarum glycopeptide (LBGP) were evaluated using this model and validated in db/db diabetic mice. LBGP promoted nerve regeneration, alleviated inflammation and oxidative stress in both in vitro and in vivo models. Notably, LBGP suppressed the expression of CCL5, highlighting its potential mechanism of action. This study establishes a robust biomimetic platform for investigating DK and other corneal diseases, and identifies LBGP as a promising therapeutic candidate for DK. These findings provide valuable insights into corneal disease mechanisms and pave the way for future translational research and clinical applications.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a common inherited retinal disease characterized by progressive degeneration of the retina, leading to night blindness, progressive vision loss, and constriction of the visual field. Previously, we established a human induced pluripotent stem cell line (CSUASOi006-A) from a RP patient carrying heterozygous PRPF8 (c.C5792T) mutation. Here, we corrected the mutation sites in PRPF8 (c.C5792T) using an adenine base editor and then generated an isogenic control (CSUASOi006-A-1), which is a valuable cell resource for research of RP.

X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) is a common retinal genetic disease that occurs in juvenile males and causes progressive visual impairment. This presents a schisis in the macula or peripheral retina of bilateral eyes, which has no effective treatment. Here, we introduced the RS1 (c.C304T, p.R102W) mutation into a normal induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell line using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. This missense mutation was consistent with that observed in the XLRS patient-derived iPS cell line (CSUASOi001-A). Conclusively, establishing a directed gene mutation cell line (CSUi007-A) provides a useful cell resource to investigate XLRS pathogenesis.

PRPF6, located on chromosome 20, is required for the formation of the spliceosome. Mutations in the PRPF6 gene can lead to retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a common inherited retinal disease characterized by progressive degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors. Here, we generated an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line carrying the PRPF6 c.2699 G > A mutation using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, which will provide a valuable resource for RP pathogenesis and treatment research.

Abstract Background X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is an inherited disease caused by RS1 gene mutation, which leads to retinal splitting and visual impairment. The mechanism of RS1-associated retinal degeneration is not fully understood. Besides, animal models of XLRS have limitations in the study of XLRS. Here, we used human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal organoids (ROs) to investigate the disease mechanisms and potential treatments for XLRS. Methods hiPSCs reprogrammed from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of two RS1 mutant (E72K) XLRS patients were differentiated into ROs. Subsequently, we explored whether RS1 mutation could affect RO development and explore the effectiveness of RS1 gene augmentation therapy. Results ROs derived from RS1 (E72K) mutation hiPSCs exhibited a developmental delay in the photoreceptor, retinoschisin (RS1) deficiency, and altered spontaneous activity compared with control ROs. Furthermore, the delays in development were associated with decreased expression of rod-specific precursor markers (NRL) and photoreceptor-specific markers (RCVRN). Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene augmentation with RS1 at the photoreceptor immature stage rescued the rod photoreceptor developmental delay in ROs with the RS1 (E72K) mutation. Conclusions The RS1 (E72K) mutation results in the photoreceptor development delay in ROs and can be partially rescued by the RS1 gene augmentation therapy.

X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) is one of the most common retinal genetic diseases with progressive visual impairment in childhood affecting males. It is manifested with macular and/or peripheral schisis in neural retinas with no effective treatment. Previously, we successfully generated a human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from an XLRS patient carrying the hemizygous RS1 c. 304C > T (p.R102W) mutation. Here, we corrected the c.304C > T mutation in the RS1 gene using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate an isogenic control. This cell line is valuable for the study of XLRS.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is one of the most common inherited retinal diseases characterized by nyctalopia, progressive vision loss and visual field contraction. we previously generated an induced pluripotent stem cell line (CSUASOi004-A) from a RP patient with heterozygous PRPF6 c.2699 G>A (p.R900H) mutation. Here we corrected the PRPF6 c.2699 G>A mutation genetically using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate an isogenic control (CSUASOi004-A-1), which can provide a valuable resource in the research of the disease.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal disorders characterized by the progressive photoreceptors and pigment epithelial cells dysfunction. Here, we report the human induced pluripotent stem cell line (iPSC) CSUASOi006-A, generated from urine-derived cells (UCs) of a 17-year-old male patient with clinically diagnosed RP carrying point mutation (c.C5792T) in the pre-mRNA processing factor 8 gene (PRPF8). The newly derived CSUASOi006-A cell line has the patient’s same mutation (c.C5792T) and could provide useful resources for studying the pathogenic mechanism of PRPF8-related RP.

We have established the patient-specific induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell line CSUASOi004-A by using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patient with a PRPF6 gene mutation (c.G2699A:p.R900H). CSUASOi004-A was established by a non-integrative method with four episomal plasmids containing the Yamanaka factors. The cell line with the specific point mutation had the typical features of normal iPS cells. For instance, the cells expressed pluripotency markers, generated all three germ layers and had a normal karyotype, and they can serve as a model for unravelling the pathogenic mechanisms underlying PRPF6-associated retinal degeneration.

Abstract:: Crumbs homologue 1 (CRB1) mutations have been found in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients lead to severe retinal dystrophies. The human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell line CSUASOi003-A derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a patient carrying two heterozygous mutations (2249G>A p.G750D and c.2809G>A p.A937T) in CRB1 gene was generated by non-integrative reprogramming technology. Pluripotency and differentiation capacity were assessed by immunocytochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The RP patient-specific iPS cell line provide a powerful model for evaluating the pathological phenotypes of the disease.

X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) is a one of most common retinal genetic diseases of juvenile progressive vitreoretinal degeneration in males, which caused by the mutation of RS1 gene. In this study, an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line was generated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of a 13-year-old male patient with X-linked juvenile retinoschisis carrying a novel mutation in RS1 gene. The iPSCs exhibited iPSC morphology, expression of the pluripotency markers and in vitro differentiation potential, and the CSUASOi005-A iPSC line retained the original mutation (c.527T > A) of RS1 with a normal karyotype.

We report the human induced pluripotent stem cell line (iPSC) CSUASOi002-A, generated from urine-derived cells (UCs) from a 51-year-old female patient carrying compound heterozygous mutations (c.62_63delTinsGA and c.C892T) in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase 6 gene (CHST6). This patient was from a Chinese family of three siblings with macular corneal dystrophy (MCD). Patient UCs were reprogrammed by electroporation using the episomal plasmids (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, l-MYC, LIN28 and shP53). The human MCD-UiPS cell line CSUASOi002-A retained the disease-associated genotype, while expressed pluripotent stem cell markers and could be differentiated into cells of all three germ layers.

X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is one of the most severely affected genetic causes of irreversible retinal degeneration diseases in young males, especially school-age boys. Here, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a Chinese 11-year-old male with clinically diagnosed XLRS. Urine sample was collected with appropriate cooperation, then isolated cells were expanded for subsequent reprogramming procedure using integration-free Sendai virus. The newly derived CSUASOi001-A iPS cell line harboring the c.304C > T mutation in the RS1 gene (p.R102W) provides a useful resource to investigate pathogenic mechanisms in XLRS.