Generation of Conjunctivae in a Dish

Article: Generation of conjunctivae in a dish
Source: Osaka University (Japan), via ScienceDaily
Published: February 2, 2021

Characterization of the hiPSC/SEAM-derived conjunctival epithelium

“Many eye diseases affect the parts of the eye that are directly involved in the process of seeing, such as the lens, the retina and the optic nerve,” says corresponding author of the study Ryuhei Hayashi. “In this study, we focused on the tissue lining up the outside of the eye and that is equally important for proper eyesight.” This statement serves to give perspective to the present study. In eye care, one often thinks first of the tissues of the eye proper, tissues that directly contribute to the function of sight. However, equally important are peripheral structures and tissues that support visual function. The tear film is a crucial component to visual clarity, without which the optics of the cornea would be compromised. Dysfunction of the tear film has many etiologies, collectively called dry eye syndrome or ocular surface disease, and is ubiquitous in both normal states and as secondary to pathological or pharmaceutical causes. The goblet cells of the conjunctiva, a translucent tissue that lines the surface of the sclera (the "white part" of the eye) and the inner side of the eyelids, are responsible for secreting the mucin component of the tear film, which keeps the tear film apposed to the eye. The researchers from Osaka University in Japan took a basic science approach to explore generating conjunctival tissue in vitro using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Their model successfully produced sufficient amounts of goblet cells, opening the possibility of studying conjunctival biology and disease in vitro. Generating conjunctivae in a dish at the surface seems like a trivial project, but given the high prevalence of dry eye syndrome, study of this tissue has the potential for wide impact, at least for mucin-related dry eyes. Furthermore, such studies further a model for drug screening and regenerative therapy, a more compassionate preliminary model than those currently used.

My rating of this study: ⭐⭐🌸

Personal commentary: I absolutely love Osaka University's website design and motto. "Bringing Happiness to the World through Research." And the photograph shows a gracious chef serving a research paper on a platter of flowers! What a comprehensive and wholesome approach to life. 🌸

Nomi K, Hayashi R, Ishikawa Y, et al. "Generation of functional conjunctival epithelium, including goblet cells, from human iPSCs." Cell Reports.  34(5):108715. 2 February 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108715