Organotypic Retinal Explant Culture as a Model for Neuroretinal Degenerative Disease and Future Applications

Comprehensive Summary

Pattamatta et al. reviews the use of an organotypic retinal explant (ORE) culture model for the study of neuroretinal degenerative diseases and the exploration of newly developed therapeutic strategies. They discussed the functionality of this model in maintaining the three-dimensional form of the tissue while providing the necessary regulation of the tissue microenvironment. The use of an organotypic explant model has its advantages in being ethical and cost-effective and in providing a better understanding of animal models in the study of neuroretinal degenerative diseases. This can be seen as a means to bridge the gap in understanding the application of clinical and preclinical research. The review highlights applications of OREs in modeling diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, and in testing gene therapy, optogenetics, stem cell transplantation, electrophysiology, and nanoparticle-based drug delivery. Although the use of explant models has its limitations, such as the tissue's viability, as discussed by the researchers, the use of this model has provided an advancement in the study of neuroretinal diseases in assessing the effects of the treatment modalities provided.

Outcomes and Implications

The study was important from the point of view of understanding the contribution that ORE cultures could play in the field of translational research in the context of neuroretinal diseases. The advantage of such OREs could be beneficial in a more physiologically relevant approach towards assessing the effectiveness and toxic potential of a drug, which could possibly reduce our dependence on animal models and assist us in making a better prediction regarding human disease, particularly during the initial phases of drug therapy. Retinal explants are useful for developing technologies for personalized medicine, although there are various implications in such disease model systems.