Compositions and methods for inducing pluripotent stem cells into retinal ganglion cells for administration to a subject for treating progressive optic neuropathies, thereby alleviating symptoms of such disorders including glaucoma.

A method of qualifying whether a cell population is a suitable therapeutic for treating an eye condition is disclosed. The method comprises analyzing co-expression of premelanosome protein (PMEL17) and at least one polypeptide selected from the group consisting of cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP), lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) and sex determining region Y-box 9 (SOX 9) in the population of cells.

A method of treating a subject with dry-form age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is disclosed. The method comprises administering into the subretina of the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising human RPE cells, wherein at least 95% of the cells thereof co-express premelanosome protein (PMEL17) and cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP), wherein the trans-epithelial electrical resistance of the cells is greater than 100 ohms to the subject, thereby treating the subject.

The present invention relates to a method for inducing the differentiation of corneal epithelial cells from pluripotent stem cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for autonomously differentiating pluripotent stem cells, such as human iPS cells, into ectodermal cell lineage in a serum-free medium without using feeder cells and inducing the differentiation of the resultant ocular surface ectodermal lineage cells into corneal epithelial cells.

The present invention provides a method for increasing collagen production in a cell and a method for inhibiting cell migration. Further, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising lipopeptides, wherein the lipopeptides substantially consist of ETTES lipopeptides, and uses of said pharmaceutical composition. The invention also provides a supramolecular structure comprising lipopeptides, wherein the lipopeptides substantially consist of ETTES lipopeptides, as well as a method for producing said supramolecular structure. The supramolecular structure of the invention may be used in the method for increasing collagen production and/or method for inhibiting cell migration.

Compositions for treating an ocular disorder are provided. The composition includes an effective amount of a human trabecular meshwork stem cell (TMSC) secretome, wherein the effective amount is present in an amount to reduce impairment of retinal ganglion cells (RGC). Methods for treating ocular disorders using the disclosed compositions are also provided. The compositions reduce and prevent cell apoptosis, axon loss, vision loss, increased intraocular pressure, and dysregulated aqueous humor outflow of a subject when used in accordance with the methods disclosed herein.

A method of treating a subject with dry-form age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is disclosed. The method comprises administering into the subretina of the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising human RPE cells, wherein at least 95% of the cells thereof co-express premelanosome protein (PMEL17) and cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP), and wherein the trans-epithelial electrical resistance of the cells is greater than 100 ohms to the subject, thereby treating the subject.

Disclosed are methods and compositions useful for treatment of blindness or dry macular degeneration. In one embodiment, retinal pigmented epithelial cells are generated from fibroblasts through induction of differentiation, and/or transdifferentiation. In another embodiment, fibroblast-derived products, such as differentiated retinal pigmented epithelial cells, are provided to subjects in a therapeutically effective amount.

The invention provides an agent for promoting adhesion of a corneal endothelial cell, containing a Rho kinase inhibitor, as well as a culture medium for a corneal endothelial cell, a solution for preservation of cornea, and a method of producing a corneal endothelial preparation, which includes culturing the corneal endothelial cell using the aforementioned culture medium.

Provided herein are methods of producing a distinct bilayer culture of retinal epithelial cells (RPE) with photoreceptor cells and/or photoreceptor precursor cells (PR/PRP). Further provided herein is a therapy comprising transplantation of the RPE and PR/PRP bilayer as well as methods for testing candidate drugs using the bilayer.