Glaucoma is primarily characterized by progressive degeneration of the optic nerve. Optic nerve damage is caused by the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), and therefore the death of RGCs is a critical stage in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Ace Therapeutics offers RGC in vitro model construction services for glaucoma research, allowing our clients to conduct human cell-based studies to more effectively understand the molecular mechanisms that contribute to glaucoma disease.
RGC Model for Glaucoma Research
The causes of RGC degeneration in patients with glaucoma are complex and varied, and not solely due to elevated IOP. Therefore, disease models used to study the mechanism of RGC death in glaucoma are of great importance. As with the study of TM cells, scientists have established RGC cell lines and 2D cultures of RGCs. However, monolayers of cells usually do not adequately summarize the cellular properties and interactions in the human retina.
Faced with the limitations of existing RGC models, several techniques have been applied in recent years to develop RGC tissue engineering models. For example, stem cell-derived organoid, 3D hydrogel models, these tissue engineering models can be used to build glaucoma models and screen drug candidates, and also for regenerative therapy studies.
2D RGC Model Construction Services
The retina is a very thin, multilayered tissue. Compared to other tissues, the 2D model can also roughly simulate the in vivo structure of the retina. We offer cell planar scaffold design and fabrication to help our customers generate 2D scaffolds for RGC culture.
The cell types we can target include,
- Rodent RGCs
- hiPSC-derived RGCs
- Human primary RGCs
- RGCs derived from embryonic stem cells
We design cell scaffolds with a radial profile to help RGCs grow directionally to produce radially oriented cell networks. We strive to grow RGC models with high neuronal viability, long axon length and similar physiological properties. Specific scaffold options include, but are not limited to,
- Electrospinning
- Poly-D, L-lactic acid (PLA)
- PLGA
- PDMA
3D RGC Model Construction Services
3D models can better simulate the intraocular environment, including cell-cell interactions, and cell-ECM interactions, compared to 2D models. We build 3D models of RGC also by constructing 3D scaffolds and embedding and culturing the cells. Currently, hydrogel scaffold materials are mainly supported.
Significant advantages of 3D models
- A physiologically relevant microenvironment is simulated in which RGCs can exhibit their natural morphological and physiological characteristics.
- RGC is more dynamic and achieves a laminar growth pattern.
- It summarizes the cell-substrate interactions that occur in the retina in vivo.
Advantages of Using RGC In Vitro Models to Study Glaucoma
RGC death is the end result of almost all glaucoma. the RGC in vitro model may help to elucidate glaucoma mechanisms and may be a useful tool to assess the response of individual cell populations to the disease.
- Help to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying glaucoma onset and progression.
- Can be used for cell lines to more complex models, such as tissue culture and isolated preparations.
- Help to reduce animal use and the experimental variability inherent in animal models of glaucoma.
- Faster and cheaper than animal models.
Scientists or institutions in need of in vitro research models for glaucoma can contact us directly for customization.
Reference
- Lu, R, et al. Tissue-Engineered Models for Glaucoma Research. Micromachines, 2020, 11, 612.