scholarly journals Effect of Storage Temperature on Key Functions of Cultured Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Pasovic ◽  
Jon Roger Eidet ◽  
Berit S. Brusletto ◽  
Torstein Lyberg ◽  
Tor P. Utheim

Purpose. Replacement of the diseased retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with cells capable of performing the specialized functions of the RPE is the aim of cell replacement therapy for treatment of macular degenerative diseases. A storage method for RPE is likely to become a prerequisite for the establishment of such treatment. Herein, we analyze the effect of storage temperature on key functions of cultured RPE cells.Methods. Cultured ARPE-19 cells were stored in Minimum Essential Medium at 4°C, 16°C, and 37°C for seven days. Total RNA was isolated and the gene expression profile was determined using DNA microarrays. Comparison of the microarray expression values with qRT-PCR analysis of selected genes validated the results.Results. Expression levels of several key genes involved in phagocytosis, pigment synthesis, the visual cycle, adherens, and tight junctions, and glucose and ion transport were maintained close to control levels in cultures stored at 4°C and 16°C. Cultures stored at 37°C displayed regulational changes in a larger subset of genes related to phagocytosis, adherens, and tight junctions.Conclusion. RPE cultures stored at 4°C and 16°C for one week are capable of maintaining the expression levels of genes important for key RPE functions close to control levels.

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (19) ◽  
pp. 4395
Author(s):  
Ayyad Zartasht Khan ◽  
Catherine Joan Jackson ◽  
Tor Paaske Utheim ◽  
Sjur Reppe ◽  
Dipak Sapkota ◽  
...  

We previously demonstrated that the silk protein sericin promotes pigmentation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) by activating the NF-κB pathway. Among numerous agents, NF-κB can be activated by hydrogen peroxide. In the present study, we explored possible associations between reactive oxygen species and sericin-induced melanogenesis in RPE. The proteome of human fetal RPE cultured for seven days with or without 1% sericin was analyzed using ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). The proteomic data was verified by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to assess morphology. Dihydroethidium (DHE) and dihydrorhodamine (DHR) assays were used to measure superoxide and hydrogen peroxide species. Expression levels of proteins related to inflammation, differentiation, cell survival and cell adhesion were higher in cells cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) with 1% sericin, whereas cells cultured in DMEM alone showed higher expression levels of proteins associated with Bruch’s membrane and cytoskeleton. Despite upregulation of inflammatory proteins, sericin co-cultured RPE yielded significantly higher cell viability compared to cells cultured without sericin. Addition of sericin to culture media significantly increased hydrogen peroxide-levels without significantly affecting superoxide-levels. We suggest that sericin-induced melanogenesis in cultured RPE is associated with elevated levels of superoxide dismutase, hydrogen peroxide and inflammatory proteins.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (13) ◽  
pp. 1480-1500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sho-ichi Yamagishi ◽  
Takanori Matsui

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a glycoprotein that belongs to the superfamily of serine protease inhibitors, serpins. It was first identified as a neuronal differentiating factor secreted by human retinal pigment epithelial cells, and then found to be the most potent inhibitor of pathological angiogenesis in mammalian eyes. Recently, PEDF has been shown not only to suppress oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions in vascular wall cells, T cells and macrophages, and adipocytes, but also to exert antithrombotic and anti-fibrotic properties, thereby protecting against the development and progression of various cardiometabolic diseases and related complications. Furthermore, accumulating evidence has suggested that circulating PEDF levels may be a biomarker of severity and prognosis of these devastating disorders. Number of subjects with visceral obesity and insulin resistance is increasing, and the metabolic syndrome and its related complications, such as diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatits, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are a growing health challenge. Therefore, in this study, we review the pathophysiological role of PEDF in obesity and metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetic eye and kidney complications, liver diseases, and reproductive system disorders, and discuss the potential clinical utility of modulating the expression and actions of PEDF for preventing these cardiometabolic disorders. We also refer to the clinical value of PEDF as a biomarker in cardiometabolic complications.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Laurence Klipfel ◽  
Marie Cordonnier ◽  
Léa Thiébault ◽  
Emmanuelle Clérin ◽  
Frédéric Blond ◽  
...  

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a blinding disease for which most of the patients remain untreatable. Since the disease affects the macula at the center of the retina, a structure specific to the primate lineage, rodent models to study the pathophysiology of AMD and to develop therapies are very limited. Consequently, our understanding relies mostly on genetic studies highlighting risk alleles at many loci. We are studying the possible implication of a metabolic imbalance associated with risk alleles within the SLC16A8 gene that encodes for a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-specific lactate transporter MCT3 and its consequences for vision. As a first approach, we report here the deficit in transepithelial lactate transport of a rare SLC16A8 allele identified during a genome-wide association study. We produced induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from the unique patient in our cohort that carries two copies of this allele. After in vitro differentiation of the iPSCs into RPE cells and their characterization, we demonstrate that the rare allele results in the retention of intron 2 of the SLC16A8 gene leading to the absence of MCT3 protein. We show using a biochemical assay that these cells have a deficit in transepithelial lactate transport.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayyad Zartasht Khan ◽  
Tor Paaske Utheim ◽  
Catherine Joan Jackson ◽  
Kim Alexander Tønseth ◽  
Jon Roger Eidet

Transplantation of novel tissue-engineered products using cultured epithelial cells is gaining significant interest. While such treatments can readily be provided at centralized medical centers, delivery to patients at geographically remote locations requires the establishment of suitable storage protocols. One important aspect of storage technology is temperature. This paper reviews storage temperature for above-freezing point storage of human epithelial cells for regenerative medicine purposes. The literature search uncovered publications on epidermal cells, retinal pigment epithelial cells, conjunctival epithelial cells, corneal/limbal epithelial cells, oral keratinocytes, and seminiferous epithelial cells. The following general patterns were noted: (1) Several studies across different cell types inclined toward 4 and 16°C being suitable short-term storage temperatures. Correspondingly, almost all studies investigating 37°C concluded that this storage temperature was suboptimal. (2) Cell death typically escalates rapidly following 7–10 days of storage. (3) The importance of the type of storage medium and its composition was highlighted by some of the studies; however, the relative importance of storage medium vs. storage temperature has not been investigated systematically. Although a direct comparison between the included investigations is not reasonable due to differences in cell types, storage media, and storage duration, this review provides an overview, summarizing the work carried out on each cell type during the past two decades.


2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (3) ◽  
pp. C617-C624 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Reigada ◽  
Wennan Lu ◽  
Xiulan Zhang ◽  
Constantin Friedman ◽  
Klara Pendrak ◽  
...  

Stimulation of ATP or adenosine receptors causes important physiological changes in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells that may influence their relationship to the adjacent photoreceptors. While RPE cells have been shown to release ATP, the regulation of extracellular ATP levels and the production of dephosphorylated purines is not clear. This study examined the degradation of ATP by RPE cells and the physiological effects of the adenosine diphosphate (ADP) that result. ATP was readily broken down by both cultured human ARPE-19 cells and the apical membrane of fresh bovine RPE cells. The compounds ARL67156 and βγ-mATP inhibited this degradation in both cell types. RT-PCR analysis of ARPE-19 cells found mRNA message for multiple extracellular degradative enzymes; ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase eNPP1, eNPP2, and eNPP3; the ectoATPase ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase NTPDase2, NTPDase3, and some message for NTPDase1. Considerable levels of ADP bathed RPE cells, consistent with a role for NTPDase2. ADP and ATP increased levels of intracellular Ca2+. Both responses were inhibited by thapsigargin and P2Y1 receptor inhibitor MRS 2179. Message for both P2Y1 and P2Y12 receptors was detected in ARPE-19 cells. These results suggest that extracellular degradation of ATP in subretinal space can result in the production of ADP. This ADP can stimulate P2Y receptors and augment Ca2+ signaling in the RPE.


1989 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-214
Author(s):  
A. T. Tsin ◽  
S. N. Gentles ◽  
E. A. Castillo

Two groups of goldfish (Carassius auratus) were subjected to light and temperature conditions known to promote a contrast in their scotopic visual pigment compositions. After 3 weeks, the porphyropsin/rhodopsin ratio in the neuroretina of these goldfish ranged from 99% porphyropsin in one group to 59% in the other. Samples of blood, liver and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were also removed from these animals and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for vitamin A composition. There was consistently more vitamin A2 than vitamin A1 (over 50% vitamin A2) in both vitamin A alcohol and vitamin A esters extracted from the liver and the RPE. In contrast, only 30% of all vitamin A extracted from the blood was vitamin A2. These observations suggest that it is mainly vitamin A1 that is transported in the blood, whereas vitamin A2 is selectively retained in the liver and in the RPE and used to form porphyropsin in the eye.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hellinen ◽  
Marja Hagström ◽  
Heidi Knuutila ◽  
Marika Ruponen ◽  
Arto Urtti ◽  
...  

Abstract Melanin pigment has a significant role in ocular pharmacokinetics, because many drugs bind at high extent to melanin in the retinal pigment epithelial cells. Most retinal pigment epithelial cell lines lack pigmentation and, therefore, we re-pigmented human ARPE-19 cells to generate a pigmented cell model. Melanosomes from porcine retinal pigment epithelium were isolated and co-incubated with ARPE-19 cells that spontaneously phagocytosed the melanosomes. Internalized melanosomes were functionally integrated to the cellular system as evidenced by correct translocation of cellular Rab27a protein to the melanosomal membranes. The pigmentation was retained during cell cultivation and the level of pigmentation can be controlled by altering the amount of administered melanosomes. We used these cells to study melanosomal uptake of six drugs. The uptake was negligible with low melanin-binders (methotrexate, diclofenac) whereas most of the high melanin-binders (propranolol, chloroquine) were extensively taken up by the melanosomes. This cell line can be used to model pigmentation of the retinal pigment epithelium, while maintaining the beneficial cell line characteristics, such as fast generation of cultures, low cost, long-term maintenance and good reproducibility. The model enables studies at normal and decreased levels of pigmentation to model different retinal conditions.


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