Matrix and the retinal pigment epithelium in proliferative retinal disease

Pathobiology of epiretinal and subretinal membranes: possible roles for the matricellular proteins thrombospondin 1 and osteonectin (SPARC)

“…47 Although RPE cell-mediated matrix contraction does not appear to be altered by addition of blocking antibodies or peptide fragments to TSP1, the colocalisation of TSP1 with migratory cells in the model, and with RPE cells in PVR membranes, does support the concept that TSP1 may play a role in RPE cell migration. 30,46 We have shown that RPE cells are capable of synthesising TSP1, TSP2, TSP3 and TSP4, and thus it seems likely that at least some of the TSP1 in PVR membranes is RPE cell-derived. 48,49 Indeed, since it is thought that a cell must actively synthesise TSP1 in order to bind the protein, 50 observations of TSP1 immunoreactive RPE cells in PVR membranes are in keeping with the idea that there is local TSP1 synthesis in the developing tissue.…”

“…30 The former is thought to gain access to the retinal surface following breakdown of the bloodretinal barrier (eg after retinal detachment) or vitreous haemorrhage (as in PDR or trauma). Cellular fibronectin appears to originate from cells (including RPE cells) displaced to the retinal surfaces in the early membranes ( Figure 1).…”

MEK/ERK pathway mediates UVB-induced AQP1 downregulation and water permeability impairment in human retinal pigment epithelial cells

“…As described previously (24), ARPE-19 cells were cultured in complete medium for 4 days. Cells (50x10 4 ) were seeded into a 6-well plate 1 day prior to transfection and cultured to 60-70% confluence the following day. Lipofectamine™ LTX (6.25 μl) together with 2.5 μl PLUS™ Reagent (Invitrogen, Indianapolis, IN) was diluted in 90 μl of DMEM for 5 min in room temperature.…”

“…Their integrity is critical for the maintenance of neural retina functions. In healthy subjects, RPE cells have a limited potential of proliferation associated with growth and age, while in uncontrolled RPE cells proliferation may contribute to retinal diseases such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (4,5). On the other hand, RPE is thought to be the prime early target for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which involves RPE cell death and atrophy of the photoreceptors (6).…”

Fibrovascular Membranes Associated with PDR: Development of Molecular Targets by Global Gene Expression Profiling

“…The known human genes identified in the human fibrovascular membranes (FVMs) are grouped according to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional categories. Reproduced with permission from Yoshida et al [20] The importance of the production of extracellular matrix by FVMs is well recognized (Hiscott, et al, 1999). In agreement with this notion, functional annotation of ESTs determined that those genes related to cell adhesions and focal adhesions are highly expressed in FVMs.…”