The Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) forms the primary site of pathology in several blinding retinopathies. RPE cultures are being continuously refined so that dynamic disease processes in this important monolayer can be faithfully studied outside the eye over longer periods. The RPE substrate, which mimics the supportive Bruch's membrane (BrM), plays a key role in determining how well in-vitro cultures recapitulate native RPE cells. Here, we evaluate how two different types of BrM substrates; (1) a commercially-available polyester transwell membrane, and (2) a novel electrospun scaffold developed in our laboratory, could support the generation of realistic RPE tissues in culture. Our findings reveal that both substrates were capable of supporting long-lasting RPE monolayers with structural and functional specialisations of in-situ RPE cells. These cultures were used to study autofluorescence and barrier formation, as well as activities such as outer-segment internalisation/trafficking and directional secretion of key proteins; the impairment of which underlies retinal disease. Hence, both substrates fulfilled important criteria for generating authentic in-vitro cultures and act as powerful tools to study RPE pathophysiology. However, RPE grown on electrospun scaffolds may be better suited to studying complex RPE-BrM interactions such as the formation of drusen-like deposits associated with early retinal disease.
Pubmed ID: 28669519 RIS Download
Publication data is provided by the National Library of Medicine ® and PubMed ®. Data is retrieved from PubMed ® on a weekly schedule. For terms and conditions see the National Library of Medicine Terms and Conditions.
An Antibody supplier
View all literature mentionsCell line ARPE-19 is a Spontaneously immortalized cell line with a species of origin Homo sapiens (Human)
View all literature mentionsMus musculus with name C57BL/6J from IMSR.
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Human LAMP2a - Lysosome Marker
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets Mouse IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal secondary targets IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal secondary targets IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal secondary targets IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal secondary targets IgG, IgM (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets MERTK antibody
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets Integrin alpha V+beta 5
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets FAK
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Rab5 antibody - Early Endosome Marker
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets alpha 1 Sodium Potassium ATPase antibody [464.6] - Plasma Membrane Marker
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets RPE65
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal secondary targets IgG (H+L)
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets LC3B
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets RAB7
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets ZO-1
View all literature mentionsStatistical analysis software that combines scientific graphing, comprehensive curve fitting (nonlinear regression), understandable statistics, and data organization. Designed for biological research applications in pharmacology, physiology, and other biological fields for data analysis, hypothesis testing, and modeling.
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Human LAMP2a - Lysosome Marker
View all literature mentions