Differentiation of Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth into Retinal Photoreceptor-Like Cells and Their Sustainability In Vivo

Figure 5

Sustainability and survival of SHEDs in vivo. (a) Relative fluorescence intensity was significantly higher in luciferase-SHEDs than in untransfected SHEDs. (b) Photograph of the subretinal space with transplanted luciferase-SHEDs. (c) Bioluminescence imaging of Eppendorf tubes containing luciferase-SHEDs (positive control, PC) emitting a strong bioluminescent signal while negative control SHEDs (NC) displayed no signal. (d) In vivo bioluminescent imaging of mice at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after transplantation. A signal was emitted from the eye area specifically on day 7, 14, and 21 (red arrows). (e) Line chart showing the bioluminescent signal of the luciferase-SHEDs group declined rapidly with time, while the control group signal remained low (; ). (f)-(g). Brightfield images (f) and fluorescent images (g) displaying SHEDs stained red with CM-Dil (red arrows for (f) and white arrows for (g)) in the subretinal space 1, 2, and 3 months after transplantation. Scale bar: 50 μm.

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