1. MERTK-Dependent Ensheathment of Photoreceptor Outer Segments by Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium
- Author
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Katerina Vafia, Thomas Kurth, Mike O. Karl, Marius Ader, Sven Schreiter, Seba Almedawar, Elly M. Tanaka, Katrin Neumann, Shahryar Khattak, and Stephen H. Tsang
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,ultrastructure [Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment] ,metabolism [Human Embryonic Stem Cells] ,Human Embryonic Stem Cells ,retinal pigment epithelium ,Ligands ,Biochemistry ,Receptor tyrosine kinase ,0302 clinical medicine ,GAS6 ,PROS1 ,ultrastructure [Human Embryonic Stem Cells] ,human pluripotent stem cells ,Internalization ,lcsh:QH301-705.5 ,ensheathment ,media_common ,ultrastructure [Retinal Pigment Epithelium] ,lcsh:R5-920 ,phagocytosis ,Cell biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,MFGE8 ,photoreceptor outer segments ,metabolism [c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase] ,lcsh:Medicine (General) ,metabolism [Receptors, Vitronectin] ,Pluripotent Stem Cells ,metabolism [Pluripotent Stem Cells] ,MERTK ,media_common.quotation_subject ,genetics [Mutation] ,Biology ,Article ,Cell Line ,03 medical and health sciences ,Phagocytosis ,Retinitis pigmentosa ,Genetics ,medicine ,Humans ,Receptors, Vitronectin ,ddc:610 ,enzymology [Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment] ,Retinal pigment epithelium ,c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase ,genetics [c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase] ,Cell Biology ,Apical membrane ,Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment ,medicine.disease ,Embryonic stem cell ,eye diseases ,030104 developmental biology ,lcsh:Biology (General) ,Mutation ,biology.protein ,sense organs ,metabolism [Retinal Pigment Epithelium] ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Developmental Biology - Abstract
Summary Maintenance of a healthy photoreceptor-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) interface is essential for vision. At the center of this interface, apical membrane protrusions stemming from the RPE ensheath photoreceptor outer segments (POS), and are possibly involved in the recycling of POS through phagocytosis. The molecules that regulate POS ensheathment and its relationship to phagocytosis remain to be deciphered. By means of ultrastructural analysis, we revealed that Mer receptor tyrosine kinase (MERTK) ligands, GAS6 and PROS1, rather than αVβ5 integrin receptor ligands, triggered POS ensheathment by human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived RPE. Furthermore, we found that ensheathment is required for POS fragmentation before internalization. Consistently, POS ensheathment, fragmentation, and internalization were abolished in MERTK mutant RPE, and rescue of MERTK expression in retinitis pigmentosa (RP38) patient RPE counteracted these defects. Our results suggest that loss of ensheathment due to MERTK dysfunction might contribute to vision impairment in RP38 patients., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • POS are ensheathed in vitro by human embryonic stem cell-derived RPE • POS ensheathment is upregulated by MERTK ligands: GAS6 and PROS1 • αVβ5 integrin receptor ligands do not stimulate POS ensheathment • MERTK is essential for POS ensheathment and fragmentation before internalization, Using ultrastructural scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-based analysis, Almedawar et al. show that MERTK ligands, GAS6 and PROS1, upregulate photoreceptor outer segments (POS) ensheathment in human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells. The authors also demonstrate that MERTK is essential for POS ensheathment and fragmentation before internalization, and suggest that ensheathment defects contribute to the pathology of retinitis pigmentosa type 38.
- Published
- 2020