Abstract

What pathways specify retinal ganglion cell (RGC) fate in the developing retina? Here we report on mechanisms by which a molecular pathway involving Sox4/Sox11 is required for RGC differentiation and for optic nerve formation in mice in vivo, and is sufficient to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells into electrophysiologically active RGCs. These data place Sox4 downstream of RE1 silencing transcription factor (REST) in regulating RGC fate, and further describe a newly identified, Sox4-regulated SUMOylation site in Sox11, which suppresses Sox11's nuclear localization and its ability to promote RGC differentiation, providing a mechanism for the SoxC familial compensation observed here and elsewhere in the nervous system. These data define novel regulatory mechanisms for this SoxC molecular network, and suggest pro-RGC molecular approaches for cell replacement-based therapies for glaucoma and other optic neuropathies.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTGlaucoma is the most common cause of blindness worldwide and along with other optic neuropathies is characterized by loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Unfortunately, vision and RGC loss are irreversible, and lead to bilateral blindness in around 14% of all diagnosed patients. Differentiating and transplanting RGC-like cells derived from stem cells have the potential to replace neurons that have already been lost and thereby restore visual function. These data uncover new mechanisms of retinal progenitor cell (RPC)- and human stem cell-to-RGC fate specification, and take a significant step towards understanding neuronal and retinal development and ultimately cell transplant therapy.

View details for DOI 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3430-13.2017

View details for PubMedID 28411269