Type I collagen permits invasive behaviour by retinal pigmented epithelial cells in vitro

Abstract

Epithelial cells cultured on type I collagen gels adopt a typical apical—basal polarity and undergo differentiation. We have compared the behaviour of chick embryo retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells on collagen and on plastic with and without gelatin coats. RPE cell proliferation was similar on all three substrata, and post-confluent cultures exhibited multilayering. On plastic and gelatin-coated plastic, dome formation, typical of transporting epithelia, occurred. On type I collagen gels, however, dome formation did not occur, but rather invasion of the gel matrix by cords of epithelial cells took place. In contrast, invasive behaviour of the cells was markedly reduced on type IV coated collagen gels, particularly in the presence of laminin. These results illustrate the prominent role of the extracellular matrix on phenotypic expression by RPE cells and may represent a more general phenomenon.

Metabolic Labeling of Human Primary Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells for Accurate Comparative Proteomics

“…The cells isolated from the retina of autopsied eyes resulted in well growing colonies that displayed a mixture of fibroblast-like and epithelial-like morphology under the microscope (data not shown). This fibroblastic phenotype observed in primary hRPE cell culture was previously reported by others. − The hRPE which have very distinct morphology in vivo become rapidly fibroblastic and invasive when explanted in vitro. − In our study, the isolated hRPE cells were able to grow well up to 12 passages. To further characterize these growing cells, FACS analysis was performed using antibody against cytokeratins 7 and 8 as marker 24 to distinguish epithelial from fibroblastic origin.…”

“…This fibro-blastic phenotype observed in primary hRPE cell culture was previously reported by others. [27][28][29] The hRPE which have very distinct morphology in vivo become rapidly fibroblastic and invasive when explanted in vitro. [27][28][29] In our study, the isolated hRPE cells were able to grow well up to 12 passages.…”

“…[27][28][29] The hRPE which have very distinct morphology in vivo become rapidly fibroblastic and invasive when explanted in vitro. [27][28][29] In our study, the isolated hRPE cells were able to grow well up to 12 passages. To further characterize these growing cells, FACS analysis was performed using antibody against cytokeratins 7 and 8 as marker 24 to distinguish epithelial from fibroblastic origin.…”