绿色荧光蛋白基因修饰的人视网膜色素上皮细胞异种移植的长期观察

探讨利用视网膜色素上皮 (retinalpigmentepithelium ,RPE)细胞移植介导目的基因转移至视网膜的可行性。人的RPE细胞在体外经携带绿色荧光蛋白 (greenfluorescentprotein ,GFP)基因的逆转录病毒感染及G4 1 8筛选后 ,手术显微镜直视下经睫状体平坦部注射到兔眼视网膜下间隙。术后通过活体荧光眼底照相 ,荧光显微镜、共聚焦显微镜及透射电镜等观察眼球铺片及切片 ,发现经 gfp基因修饰的人RPE细胞在兔眼视网膜下间隙可存活一年以上。移植的RPE gfp细胞不仅仅局限于移植部位 ,大多扩散到超过 2～ 3个象限的眼底 ,镶嵌于宿主RPE细胞之间或呈单层排列在宿主色素上皮与神经视网膜之间 ,并持续高水平表达GFP。移植后早期玻璃体内每周注射免疫抑制剂普乐可复 (FK5 0 6 )可明显改善移植细胞的存活状态

Long term Outcome of gfp Gene Modified Human RPE Xenografts into the Subretinal Space of Rabbits

The possibility of delivery genes to retina by using retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) transplantation was investigated. Cultured human adult RPE cells were transfected with retrovirus encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP), then GFP expressing RPE cells were transplanted into the subretinal space of rabbits through pars plana vitrectomy under microscopy. The transplant sites were examined in vivo by ophthalmoscope for fluorescence. The animals were euthanatized at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25, 33, 54 weeks, respectively, and the retinas were studied histologically, including epi fluorescent microscopy, confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The GFP expressing transplant could be followed in the living retina up to 21 days by ophthalmoscope. The epi fluorescent microscopy examination disclosed survival of the transplanted cells in 1 year with continual and significant GFP expression. It was observed the transplanted hRPE gfp cells were not only present at transplant sites but spread over two to three quarters of retina. Generally, RPE xenografts integrated individually into host RPE in a regular cobblestones arrangement or formed a monolayer sheet between host RPE and neural retina. It was observed that intravitreal injection of FK 506 weekly improved the survival of RPE xenografts and reduced the infiltration of mononuclear microphages and lymphocytes in choroids from 1 through 14 weeks after transplantation. The results demonstrate a long term survival of gene modified human RPE xenografts into the subretinal space of rabbits and support the feasibility of this approach for delivery genes to retina.