Human cone photoreceptor transplantation stimulates remodeling and restores function in AIPL1 model of end-stage Leber congenital amaurosis
Christopher A. Procyk, Anna Melati, Joana Ribeiro, Jingshu Liu, Matthew J. Branch, Jamie D Delicata, Menahil Tariq, Aikaterini A Kalarygrou, Jessica Kapadia, Majid Moshtagh Khorsani, Emma L. West, Alexander J. Smith, Anai Gonzalez-Cordero, Robin R. Ali, R. A. Pearson
Abstract
Photoreceptor degeneration is a leading cause of untreatable sight loss. Previously, we showed that human pluripotent stem cell-derived cone photoreceptors (hCones) can rescue retinal function in the Rd1 mouse model of rod-cone dystrophy. However, retinal degenerations display markedly different severities and concomitant remodeling of the remaining retina; for photoreceptor replacement therapy to be broadly effective, it must work for a variety of disease phenotypes. Here, we sought to rescue the Aipl1 −/− model of Leber congenital amaurosis, a particularly fast, severe condition. After transplantation of hCones, host cone bipolar cells underwent extensive remodeling and formed nascent synaptic-like connections. Electrophysiological recordings showed robust rescue of light-evoked activity across visually relevant photopic intensities, and treated mice exhibited visually evoked optokinetic head-tracking behavior. Thus, human cone photoreceptor replacement therapy is feasible even in very severe cases of retinal dystrophy, offering promise as a disease-agnostic therapy in Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and in other advanced retinal degenerations.