Xeno-Free and Defined Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Functionally Integrate in a Large-Eyed Preclinical Model

This publication by the groups of Drs. Hovatta, Lanner, and Kvanta describe the production of hESC-RPE cells in a xeno-free and defined manner. In the paper, they describe an effective differentiation methodology using a human recombinant laminin-521 matrix with a xeno-free and defined medium. The differentiated RPE cells exhibit native characteristics including morphology, pigmentation, marker expression, monolayer integrity, polarization, and phagocytic activity. The authors also established a large-eyed geographic atrophy model that allowed in vivo imaging of the hESC-RPE and host retina. Cells were transplanted in suspension and showed long-term integration and formed polarized monolayers exhibiting phagocytic and photoreceptor rescue capacity.