Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40001251›Full record

ArticleStem cell research & therapy2025

Retinal ganglion cells induce stem cell-derived neuroprotection via IL-12 to SCGF-β crosstalk.

Qing Xia, Kun-Che Chang, Yanan Sun, Michael Nahmou, Takahiko Noro, Yun Cheng, Xiangmei Kong, Xiaofen Mo, Jeffrey L Goldberg, Suqian Wu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Stem cell research & therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Qing XiaShanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China.
Kun-Che ChangSpencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
Yanan SunShanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China.
Michael NahmouSpencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
Takahiko NoroSpencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
Yun ChengShanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China.
Xiangmei KongShanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China.
Xiaofen MoShanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China. xfmo@fudan.edu.cn.
Jeffrey L GoldbergSpencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA. jlgoldbe@stanford.edu.
Suqian WuShanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China. sqwu15@fudan.edu.cn.

Funding

Stanford Vision Research CoreP30EY026877 · NEI · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI Jeffrey L Goldberg · 2017 to 2026
$8.0M
Retinal Ganglion Cell Replacement in Optic NeuropathiesU24EY029903 · NEI · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI CALKINS, DAVID J., GOLDBERG, JEFFREY L · 2018 to 2024
$7.5M
National Natural Science Foundation of China 82070957National Natural Science Foundation of China 82201175NEI NIH HHS P30 EY026877NEI NIH HHS P30-EY026877NEI NIH HHS U24 EY029903NEI NIH HHS U24-EY029903
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStem cell-derived secreted factors could protect neurons in neurodegenerative disease or after injury. The exact neuroprotective components in the secretome remain challenging to discover. Here we developed a cell-to-cell interaction model to identify a retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-protective factor derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

methodsPrimary RGCs were co-cultured with iPSCs or treated with iPSC-conditioned media in vitro. Cell viability were assayed using live-cell staining, and culture supernatant were analyzed via multiplexed antibody-based assays and ELISA. In vivo tests were carried out under mouse optic nerve crush model and RGC transplantation study in rats. Paired t-tests were used for data analysis between two groups.

resultsRGC viability was significantly enhanced when iPSCs were first stimulated with RGC-derived supernatant before iPSC-conditioned medium was collected and added into RGC culture. A significant increase of stem cell growth factor-beta (SCGF-β) concentration was detected in the latter conditioned medium. SCGF-β enhanced RGC survival in vitro and in vivo, and RGC-derived interleukin-12(p70) (IL-12[p70]) promotes secretion of iPSC-derived SCGF-β. Downstream of this IL-12(p70)-to-SCGF-β axis, ngn2 was significantly upregulated, and was found both necessary and sufficient for RGC survival.

conclusionThis study addresses a longstanding question of how neurons and stem cells interact to promote neuroprotection, and define a novel molecular interaction pathway whereby RGC's secretion of IL-12(p70) enhances iPSCs' secretion of SCGF-β, and SCGF-β protects RGCs via upregulating ngn2, suggesting that neurons may call on stem cells for their own protection.

Indexed as

Induced Pluripotent Stem CellsInterleukin-12NeuroprotectionRetinal Ganglion CellsAnimalsCell SurvivalCoculture TechniquesCulture Media, ConditionedHumansMaleMiceRatsCulture Media, ConditionedInterleukin-12

Identifiers

PMID40001251
PMCPMC11863831

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.