Chromosomal number aberrations and transformation in adult mouse retinal stem cells in vitro

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford, England) Vol. 87; no. s244
• Main Authors: DJOJOSUBROTO, M, BOLLOTTE, F, WIRAPATI, P, RADTKE, F, STAMENKOVIC, I, ARSENIJEVIC, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-09-2009
• ISSN: 1755-375X; 1755-3768
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2009.2234.x

Purpose The therapeutic potential of stem cells on degenerative diseases and damaged tissues such as retinal degeneration has been recognized. Generation of high numbers of retinal stem cells (RSCs) in vitro would thus be beneficial for retinal transplantation. As long‐term cultivated cells might be unstable and have a risk of transformation, it is important to assess the stability of these cells.
Methods We analyzed chromosomal aberrations of RSC lines isolated from adult and postnatal day 1 mouse retinas. Then, selected cell lines were tested for anchorage‐dependent proliferation, and for possibility of transformation by transplantation in immunocompromised mice.
Results Aneuploidy occurred in all adult cell lines, albeit to different levels. Neonatal RSCs were the most stable and displaying a normal karyotype until at least passage 9. We observed that two of the adult RCS lines tested were transformed and identified several cell cycle proteins that might support the cell continuous proliferation and transformation.
Conclusion The aneuploidy level of adult RSCs did not necessarily correlate with cell transformation. Only the adult RSC lines passaged for longer period and with higher dilution ratio underwent transformation, showing that culture condition plays an important role in supporting the selection and growth of transformed cells.