Sunao Sugita: Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN, Kobe, Japan.
Hiroyuki Kamao: Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN, Kobe, Japan.
Yuko Iwasaki: Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN, Kobe, Japan.
Satoshi Okamoto: Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN, Kobe, Japan Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Tomoyo Hashiguchi: Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN, Kobe, Japan.
Kyoko Iseki: Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN, Kobe, Japan.
Naoko Hayashi: Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN, Kobe, Japan.
Michiko Mandai: Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN, Kobe, Japan.
Masayo Takahashi: Laboratory for Retinal Regeneration, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN, Kobe, Japan.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells could inhibit T-cell activation in vitro. METHODS: Cultured iPS-derived RPE (iPS-RPE) cells were established from fresh skin tissues or dental pulp cells obtained from healthy donors or a retinal patient after informed consent was obtained. To confirm expression of the specific markers on iPS and iPS-RPE cells, immunohistochemistry, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), and flow cytometry were performed. Target T cells were obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors. Target T cells were assessed for proliferation by incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine or carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester for production of cytokines such as IFN-γ. Expression of TGFβ and other candidate molecules by iPS-RPE cells was evaluated with flow cytometry, ELISA, multiplex cytokine array, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR. RESULTS: The RPE cells we established from iPS cells had many characteristics of mature RPE cells but no characteristics of pluripotent stem cells. Cultured iPS-RPE cells inhibited cell proliferation and production of IFN-γ by activated CD4(+) T cells. In some bystander T cells, iPS-derived RPE cells induced CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells in vitro. Induced pluripotent stem-RPE cells constitutively expressed TGFβ and suppressed activation of T cells via soluble TGFβ, because TGFβ-downregulated iPS-RPE cells did not inhibit this T-cell activation. CONCLUSIONS: Cultured iPS-derived retinal cells fully suppress T-cell activation. Transplantation of iPS-RPE cells into the eye might be a therapy for retinal disorders.
