Oxidative damage in age-related macular degeneration.

Epidemiologic studies have suggested that elderly patients who consumed diets rich in antioxidants throughout their lives are less likely to be afflicted with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This led to the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, which showed that supplements containing antioxidant vitamins and zinc reduce the risk of progression to severe stages of AMD. Despite these data that indirectly implicate oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of AMD, there has not been any direct demonstration of increased oxidative damage in the retinas of patients with AMD. In this study, we used biomarkers of oxidative damage in postmortem eyes from patients with AMD and comparably aged patients without AMD to directly assess for oxidative damage. Sections from 4 eyes with no pathologic features of AMD showed no immunofluorescent staining for markers of oxidative damage, while sections from 8 of 12 eyes with advanced geographic atrophy showed evidence of widespread oxidative damage in both posterior and anterior retina. Only 2 of 8 eyes with choroidal neovascularization and 2 of 16 eyes with diffuse drusen and no other signs of AMD showed evidence of oxidative damage. These data suggest that widespread oxidative damage occurs in the retina of some patients with AMD and is more likely to be seen in patients with advanced geographic atrophy. This does not rule out oxidative damage as a pathogenic mechanism in patients with CNV, but suggests that a subpopulation of patients with geographic atrophy may have a major deficiency in the oxidative defense system that puts the majority of cells in the retina at risk for oxidative damage.

Suppression of ocular neovascularization with siRNA targeting VEGF receptor 1.

In this study, we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (vegfr1) mRNA to investigate the role of VEGFR1 in ocular neovascularization (NV). After evaluating many siRNAs, Sirna-027 was identified; it cleaved vegfr1 mRNA at the predicted site and reduced its levels in cultured endothelial cells and in mouse models of retinal and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Compared to injection of an inverted control sequence, quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR demonstrated statistically significant reductions of 57 and 40% in vegfr1 mRNA after intravitreous or periocular injection of Sirna-027, respectively. Staining showed uptake of 5-bromodeoxyuridine-labeled Sirna-027 in retinal cells that lasted between 3 and 5 days after intravitreous injection and was still present 5 days after periocular injection. In a CNV model, intravitreous or periocular injections of Sirna-027 resulted in significant reductions in the area of NV ranging from 45 to 66%. In mice with ischemic retinopathy, intravitreous injection of 1.0 mug of Sirna-027 reduced retinal NV by 32% compared to fellow eyes treated with 1.0 mug of inverted control siRNA. These data suggest that VEGFR1 plays an important role in the development of retinal and CNV and that targeting vegfr1 mRNA with siRNA has therapeutic potential.

Angiopoietin 1 inhibits ocular neovascularization and breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier.

Several retinal and choroidal diseases are potentially treatable by intraocular delivery of genes whose products may counter or neutralize abnormal gene expression that occurs as part of the diseases. However, prior to considering a transgene, it is necessary to thoroughly investigate the effects of its expression in normal and diseased eyes. An efficient way to do this is to combine tissue-specific promoters with inducible promoter systems in transgenic mice. In this study, we used this approach to evaluate the effects of ectopic expression of angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) in normal eyes and those with ocular neovascularization. Adult mice with induced expression of Ang1 ubiquitously, or specifically in the retina, appeared normal and had no identifiable changes in retinal or choroidal blood vessels or in retinal function as assessed by electroretinography. Increased expression of Ang1 in eyes with severe retinal ischemia or in eyes with rupture of Bruch's membrane significantly suppressed the development of retinal or choroidal neovascularization, respectively. This inhibition of ocular neovascularization is particularly interesting and noteworthy, because overexpression of Ang1 in skin stimulates neovascularization. Ang1 also significantly reduced VEGF-induced retinal vascular permeability. These data suggest that intraocular delivery of ang1 has potential for treatment of ocular neovascularization and macular edema.

Photoreceptor-specific expression of platelet-derived growth factor-B results in traction retinal detachment.

Expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A and PDGF-B is increased in patients with proliferative retinopathies in which traction retinal detachments occur. Previous studies have demonstrated that increased expression of PDGF-A in the retina of transgenic mice results in retinal gliosis due to proliferation of astrocytes with different retinal phenotypes based on the time of onset and location of the PDGF-A production. In this study, we investigated the effects of PDGF-B in the retina using gain-of-function transgenic mice that express PDGF-B in photoreceptors. These mice show proliferation of astrocytes, pericytes, and, to a lesser extent, endothelial cells, resulting in ectopic cells on the surface and extending into the retina. The sheets of cells exert traction on the retina resulting in traction retinal detachments similar to those seen in humans with proliferative retinopathies. These studies suggest that PDGF-B has more dramatic effects in the retina than PDGF-A, because it acts on additional cell types, in particular on pericytes, which have a highly developed contractile apparatus. These studies in the retina suggest a means that could be used in other tissues throughout the body to achieve graded PDGF effects. They also provide a new model of traction retinal detachment that can be used to investigate new treatments for patients with proliferative retinopathies.

Angiopoietin 2 expression in the retina: upregulation during physiologic and pathologic neovascularization.

Vascular development in the embryo requires coordinated signaling through several endothelial cell-specific receptors; however, it is not known whether this is also required later during retinal vascular development or as part of retinal neovascularization in adults. The Tie2 receptor has been implicated in stabilization and maturation of vessels through action of an agonist ligand, angiopoietin 1 (Ang1) and an antagonistic ligand, Ang2. In this study, we have demonstrated that ang2 mRNA levels are increased in the retina during development of the deep retinal capillaries by angiogenesis and during pathologic angiogenesis in a model of ischemic retinopathy. Mice with hemizygous disruption of the ang2 gene by insertion of a promoterless beta-galactosidase (beta gal) gene behind the ang2 promoter, show constitutive beta gal staining primarily in cells along the outer border of the inner nuclear layer identified as horizontal cells by colocalization of calbindin. During development of the deep capillary bed or retinal neovascularization, other cells in the inner nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer, in regions of neovascularization, stain for beta gal. Thus, there is temporal and spatial correlation of Ang2 expression with developmental and pathologic angiogenesis in the retina, suggesting that it may play a role.

Bone morphogenetic proteins-2 and -4: negative growth regulators in adult retinal pigmented epithelium.

PURPOSE: To determine the relative level and localization of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-4 mRNA in the retina and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) under normal and pathologic conditions, to seek clues regarding possible functions. METHODS: Clones isolated from an RPE cDNA library were sequenced and used as probes for northern blot analysis. Expression in the retina and RPE was investigated in mouse models using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization. The effect of recombinant proteins on RPE proliferation was investigated by thymidine incorporation. RESULTS: Bovine clones with high homology to BMP-2 and BMP4 were isolated from a subtracted RPE cDNA library. Northern blot analysis using the clones as probes demonstrated abundant and differential expression in adult bovine RPE, but with RT-PCR and in situ hybridization, expression was also demonstrated in mouse retinal neurons. In mice with oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy there was a striking decrease in BMP-4 mRNA in the retina within 6 hours of the onset of hypoxia that was maintained for at least 5 days. In mice with inherited photoreceptor degeneration, there was a dramatic decrease in BMP4 mRNA in retina and RPE during and after the degeneration. mRNA for the type II BMP receptor was observed in freshly isolated and cultured RPE cells, isolated retina, and freshly isolated bovine aortic endothelial cells. Thymidine incorporation in early-passage RPE cells showed a 14-fold stimulation above control with 5% serum that was decreased to 322%, 393%, and 313% in the presence of BMP-2 (10 ng/ml), BMP4 (10 ng/ml), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-,1 (2 ng/ml), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BMP-2 and BMP-4 may serve as negative growth regulators in the retina and RPE that are downregulated by injury, to allow tissue repair. Modulation of expression of the BMPs may provide a means to control the exaggerated wound repair that occurs in proliferative retinopathies.

Hyperoxia causes decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and endothelial cell apoptosis in adult retina.

Mice or humans with photoreceptor degenerations experience permeability and dropout of retinal capillaries. Loss of photoreceptors results in decreased oxygen usage and thinning of the retina with increased oxygen delivery to the inner retina. To investigate the possibility that increased tissue oxygen plays a role in the vascular damage, we exposed adult mice to hyperoxia, which also increases oxygen in the retina. After 1, 2, or 3 weeks of hyperoxia, there was a statistically significant decrease in retinal vascular density that was not reversible, and endothelial cell apoptosis was demonstrated by TUNEL staining. Mice exposed to hyperoxia and mice with photoreceptor degeneration both showed decreased expression of VEGF in the retina. After complete or near-complete degeneration of photoreceptors, there was increased expression of VEGF in RPE cells, which may explain the association of photoreceptor degeneration and neovascularization in or around the RPE. Increased expression of VEGF in photoreceptors of transgenic mice failed to prevent hyperoxia-induced retinal capillary dropout. These data suggest that increased oxygen in the retina, either by increased inspired oxygen or by photoreceptor degeneration, results in endothelial cell death and dropout of capillaries. Decreased expression of VEGF may be a contributing factor, but the situation may be more complicated for mature retinal vessels than it is for immature vessels, because VEGF replacement does not rescue mature retinal vessels, suggesting that other factors may also be involved.

Hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha is increased in ischemic retina: temporal and spatial correlation with VEGF expression.

PURPOSE: Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor composed of HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta subunits. HIF-1 transactivates multiple genes whose products play key roles in oxygen homeostasis, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This study was designed to determine whether HIF-1 levels are increased in ischemic retina and whether there is a correlation with increased expression of VEGF. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were killed at time points that span retinal vascular development (PO to adult), or on postnatal day (P) 7 they were placed in a 75% oxygen environment for 5 days and then removed to room air and killed after 0, 2, or 6, or 24 hours and 5 or 14 days. Eyes were frozen, and retinas were isolated and used for immunoblot analysis, or eyes were sectioned for immunohisto chemical staining for HIF-1alpha or HIF-1beta, or for in situ hybridization for VEGF. RESULTS: Immunoblots of retinal lysates showed low levels of HIF-1alpha at PO that were markedly increased at P4, remained high throughout the period of retinal vascular development and then decreased to an intermediate level in adults. HIF-1beta levels were relatively constant at all time points. In mice with oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy, HIF-1alpha levels were increased in the retina. The peak of increase occurred at 2 hours, and levels returned to baseline by 24 hours. Immunohistochemistry showed increased staining for HIF-1alpha throughout the hypoxic inner retina, but not in the normoxic outer retina. There was no modulation of HIF-1beta levels. There was constitutive expression of VEGF mRNA in the inner nuclear layer that was increased 6 hours after the onset of hypoxia and remained elevated for several days. CONCLUSIONS: There are increased levels of HIF-1alpha in ischemic retina that show temporal and spatial correlation with increased expression of VEGF. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that HIF-1 plays a role in upregulation of VEGF in ischemic retina.

A splice variant of trkB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor are co-expressed in retinal pigmented epithelial cells and promote differentiated characteristics.

There is evidence suggesting reciprocal trophic interactions between photoreceptors and the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), but the factors involved have not been identified. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that one or more known neurotrophic factors act upon the RPE. Cultured human and freshly isolated bovine RPE cells demonstrated saturable specific binding for [125I]labeled BDNF, NT-4/5 and NT-3 with little specific binding for CNTF and none for NGF. Cross-competition experiments showed that BDNF is the preferred ligand and cross-linking of [125I]BDNF resulted in a doublet at 160 kd that was increased in RPE cells incubated in all-trans retinoic acid. There was basal phosphorylation of a 145 kd protein recognized by an anti-trk antibody that was increased in RPE cells pulsed with BDNF. RT-PCR with primers spanning the transmembrane domain demonstrated that RPE cells express trkB mRNA lacking a region homologous to exon 9 of chicken trkB, a splice variant that has been demonstrated to preferentially interact with BDNF. Northern blots demonstrated that cultured RPE cells also express mRNA for BDNF. BDNF did not stimulate proliferation or increase survival of RPE cells in serum-free medium, but promoted a differentiated morphology and increased the expression of cellular retinaldehyde binding protein, a marker of the differentiated state in RPE cells. An RPE cell line that spontaneously shows differentiated features showed a high level of BDNF mRNA. These data demonstrate that RPE cells express a short splice variant of trkB whose activation correlates with expression of differentiated characteristics and the cells themselves are capable of producing a ligand for the receptors. Signaling through trkB could play a role in differentiation of RPE cells during development and maintenance of the differentiated state in adult RPE.

Transgenic mice with increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the retina: a new model of intraretinal and subretinal neovascularization.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in retinal neovascularization (NV), but it has been difficult to produce retinal NV with exogenous VEGF. We investigated the effect of increased VEGF expression in the retina using tissue-specific, gain-of-function transgenic mice in which the bovine rhodopsin promoter is coupled to the gene for human VEGF. Three founder mice were obtained and used to generate transgenic lines. One of the lines shows increased expression of VEGF in the retina by reverse transcription coupled to polymerase chain reaction and Northern blots, and the VEGF is localized to photoreceptors by immunohistochemistry. These mice demonstrate new vessels originating from the deep capillary bed of the retina that extend beneath the photoreceptor layer into the subretinal space where they form clumps of blood vessels surrounded by proliferated retinal pigmented epithelial cells. The appearance is similar to subretinal NV seen in some patients, except that the blood vessels originate from the retinal vasculature rather than the choroidal vasculature. One of the other two lines of mice did not show increased expression of VEGF and did not have NV; the other line showed retinal degeneration. This study demonstrates that over-expression of VEGF in the retina is sufficient to cause intraretinal and subretinal NV and provides a valuable new animal model.

Neurotrophic factors, cytokines and stress increase expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and FGF receptors have been localized to photoreceptors and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), but the function of bFGF in adult retina and RPE is unknown. Exogenous bFGF has a neuroprotective effect in retina and brain and its expression is increased in some neurons in response to cytokines or stress. In this study, we investigated the effect of light, other types of stress, neurotrophic factors, and cytokines on bFGF levels in cultured human RPE. Some agents that protect photoreceptors from the damaging effects of constant light, including brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor, and interleukin-1 beta, increase bFGF mRNA levels in RPE cells. Intense light and exposure to oxidizing agents also increase bFGF mRNA levels in RPE cells and cycloheximide blocks the increase. An increase in bFGF protein levels was demonstrated by ELISA in RPE cell supernatants after incubation with BDNF or exposure to intense light or oxidizing agents. These data indicate that bFGF is modulated in RPE cells by stress and by agents that provide protection from stress and support the hypothesis that bFGF functions as a survival factor in the outer retina.

Localisation of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors to cells of vascular and avascular epiretinal membranes.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: Epiretinal membranes (ERMs) arise from a variety of causes or, in some cases, for unknown reasons. Once established, ERMs tend to progress, becoming more extensive and exerting increasing traction along the inner surface of the retina. One possible cause for their progression is the production of growth factors by cells within ERMs that may provide autocrine or paracrine stimulation. Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and its receptors have been localised to cells of ERMs and may play such a role. In this study, comparative data were sought for several other growth factors that have been implicated in ERM formation. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining of ERMs was done for PDGF-A, PDGF-B, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), three isoforms of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors, flt-1 and flk-1/KDR. Expression of flt-1 and flk-1/KDR was examined in cultured retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells and retinal glia from postmortem eyes by immunohistochemistry and by reverse transcription coupled to polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Staining was most intense and most frequently observed for VEGF and PDGF-A, both in vascular and avascular ERMs. The majority of cells stained for VEGF in nine of 11 (81.8%) diabetic ERMs and in 14 of 24 (58.3%) proliferative vitreoretinopathy ERMs. The receptors for VEGF, flt-1, and flk-1/KDR were also identified on cells in ERMs and on cultured RPE cells. By RT-PCR, mRNA for flt-1 was identified in RPE cells and retinal glia, and mRNA for flk-1/KDR was identified in RPE cells. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that VEGF and its receptors are localised to both vascular and avascular ERMs and suggest that VEGF, like PDGF-A, may be an autocrine and paracrine stimulator that may contribute to progression of vascular and avascular ERMs.

Class III beta-tubulin in human retinal pigment epithelial cells in culture and in epiretinal membranes.

The class III beta-tubulin isotype (beta III) is expressed exclusively by neurons within the normal human retina and is not present in normal retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in situ or in 1 day-old primary cultures; however, beta III is present in RPE cells in 5-day primary cultures and in passaged RPE cells grown in monolayer cultures as determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. beta III-positivity in cultured RPE cells is not affected by cell density or hydroxyurea- or retinoic-acid-mediated growth inhibition, but only a few cells weakly express beta III in cyclohexamide-treated cultures and RPE cells maintained in serum-free medium fail to produce beta III. When monolayer-cultured RPE cells grown in normal, serum-containing medium, are transferred to irradiated bovine vitreous, beta III is undetectable in most cells. Cultured RPE cells coexpress beta III with keratin and cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (both RPE cell markers), but not with glial fibrillary acidic protein. Some cultured RPE cells also express neuron-specific (gamma) enolase, which is neuron-associated but not neuron-specific, and occasional cells in confluent or super-confluent cultures contain the 200-kDa neurofilament protein. Retinal glia, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells do not express beta III under the same culture conditions. We have detected beta III in 45 of 56 epiretinal membranes, frequently in cells with a bipolar or dedifferentiated morphology, where its expression coincides with other RPE cell-associated antigens. Cells with morphological features resembling normal RPE cells in epiretinal membranes are usually negative for beta III, but RPE cells appearing to be in the early stages of dedifferentiation express the isotype weakly. Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry localizes beta III to microtubules, ribosomes and cytoplasm. beta III may be a useful marker for recognizing the fraction of RPE cells in epiretinal membranes that are no longer identifiable by morphological criteria or other RPE cell markers. These findings demonstrate that mature human RPE cells have the capacity to express a neuron-associated gene in response to conditions that promote dedifferentiation.

Platelet-derived growth factor is an autocrine growth stimulator in retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

The retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) plays a major role in normal and exaggerated retinal wound repair; the latter can result in epiretinal membrane formation and loss of vision. The RPE forms a stable monolayer of highly differentiated cells that proliferates only during wound repair. The mechanism underlying the change to the proliferating phenotype is unknown. When grown on a plastic substratum, cultured RPE cells mimic the proliferating phenotype in situ; they escape density arrest and proliferate in serum-free medium. In this study, we have demonstrated that a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) autocrine loop is involved in RPE growth in serum-free medium, because: (1) RPE cells secrete PDGF into their media and express PDGF receptors; (2) the PDGF receptors on RPE cells are autophosphorylated in serum-free medium and suramin, an agent that displaces PDGF and other growth factors from their receptors, blocks the autophosphorylation; and (3) a neutralizing antibody to PDGF significantly decreases RPE growth in serum-free medium. When a linear scrape is made in an RPE monolayer, the cells migrate and proliferate to fill in the gap mimicking wound repair in situ. Cells along the edge of the scrape show increased expression of PDGF and PDGF-beta receptors, and increased staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization demonstrate expression of PDGF in ganglion cells and cells of retinal blood vessels. PDGF is not detected in the outer retina or RPE in untreated eyes, but is detected in RPE participating in wound repair, either adjacent to laser burns or underlying retinal detachment. PDGF and PDGF receptors are also expressed in RPE in epiretinal membranes removed during vitreous surgery. These data suggest that PDGF is an autocrine stimulator of growth in RPE that plays a role in retinal wound repair and epiretinal membrane formation.

Corneal endothelial cell matrix promotes expression of differentiated features of retinal pigmented epithelial cells: implication of laminin and basic fibroblast growth factor as active components.

Human retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells cultured on plastic, unlike RPE in situ, often fail to density arrest, do not produce melanin, and do not express mRNA for cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP). When human RPE are cultured on the extracellular matrix produced by bovine corneal endothelial cells for 1 week or human RPE for 3 weeks, they density arrest, assume a differentiated morphology, and produce pigment and mRNA for CRALBP (all differentiated features of RPE). Human RPE grown on a laminin substratum or grown in media supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (basic FGF), assume a differentiated morphology for up to 3 weeks, and this is maintained for several months when the cells are grown on laminin in the presence of basic FGF and heparin. With the latter conditions, the cells also produce mRNA for CRALBP. Human RPE grown on bovine corneal endothelial cell matrix treated with neutralizing antibodies to basic FGF or laminin or agents that displace FGF from extracellular matrix (suramin or protamine), do not assume a differentiated morphology and express less CRALBP mRNA than RPE grown on bovine corneal endothelial cell matrix treated with antibodies to type IV collagen. These data suggest that the extracellular matrix may facilitate RPE expression of differentiated features and that laminin and basic FGF may be important components.

Modulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and urokinase in retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of several agents that either stimulate or inhibit neovascularization on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and urokinase in retinal pigmented epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: Steady-state levels of messenger RNA were assessed by Northern blots and dot blots and protein levels were assessed by immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: Data indicate that messenger RNA levels for plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 are modulated in similar fashion in both cells types, being increased by incubation with transforming growth factor-beta, dexamethasone, tumor necrosis factor, phorbol myristate acetate, and thrombin. Levels of urokinase messenger RNA in retinal pigmented epithelial cells are significantly increased only by phorbol myristate acetate and are decreased by dexamethasone and transforming growth factor-beta, whereas in endothelial cells plasminogen activator urokinase messenger RNA is increased by each of the stimuli except dexamethasone, which causes a decrease. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate similar modulation of inhibitor-1 proteins secreted by retinal pigmented epithelial cells, whereas urokinase is difficult to detect. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that retinal pigmented epithelial cells may help to alter proteolytic activity in the subretinal space and thereby participate, along with endothelial cells, in the regulation of choroidal neovascularization.

A morphological and immunohistochemical study of human retinal pigment epithelial cells, retinal glia, and fibroblasts grown on Gelfoam matrix in an organ culture system. A comparison of structural and nonstructural proteins and their application to cell type identification.

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, retinal glia, and fibroblasts undergo marked phenotypical change when outside their usual microenvironment, as occurs in epiretinal membrane formation. To explore their phenotypic potential without the influence of other cell types, each was cultured on Gelfoam matrix and assessed immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally. All cell types demonstrated vimentin and a universal beta-tubulin epitope, TU27. RPE and retinal glial cells were positive for cytokeratin, Leu 7, and neuron-specific (gamma gamma) enolase, as were glia and fibroblasts for S-100 protein and RPE cells and fibroblasts for glutamine synthetase. RPE cells alone showed positivity for class III beta-tubulin and retinal S-antigen (monolayer cultures only); occasional retinal glia, which immunohistochemical findings suggest are Müller cell derived, demonstrated GFA protein. Therefore, class III beta-tubulin may be useful in distinguishing RPE cells from retinal glia and fibroblasts, and Leu-7 may help to identify RPE cells and fibroblasts; these cell types are difficult to distinguish in clinical material using more traditional morphological criteria.

Thrombin is a stimulator of retinal pigment epithelial cell proliferation.

Two preparations of bovine thrombin were found to stimulate DNA synthesis in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells. DNA synthesis was assessed by both [3H]thymidine incorporation into TCA precipitable material and nuclear labeling with [3H]thymidine. Cultures grown in the presence of thrombin for 48 hr showed a significant increase in cell number. When the concentrations of the two thrombin preparations were normalized for clotting activity, they had almost identical dose-response curves and both caused a tenfold maximal stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation. The EC50 for the preparation with higher specific activity was 20 ng ml(-1). Hirudin, a specific high affinity inhibitor of thrombin, completely blocked the mitogenic effect. When a maximally effective concentration of thrombin was used in combination with maximally effective concentrations of other growth factors (insulin, acidic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor), they were found to be strongly synergistic in stimulating DNA synthesis. These data suggest that thrombin may act as an endocrine mediator of retinal pigment epithelial cell proliferation and participate in normal and exaggerated ocular wound healing.

Inhibition of growth factor effects in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Several agents were examined for their effect on growth factor-stimulated processes in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. DNA synthesis was assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation in density-arrested cells using previously determined maximally effective concentrations of various growth factors with and without test substances. Cell migration was assessed in Boyden chamber assays. For each test substance, trypan blue exclusion was used to determine noncytotoxic concentrations, and the effect of several concentrations were assessed on selected growth factors. The most effective, nontoxic concentration was then used for comparisons. Two cationic proteins, protamine and histone type II B, caused inhibition of RPE chemotaxis and 3H-thymidine incorporation induced by several growth factors, but a cationic polypeptide, polylysine, did not. Protamine and histone, were particularly effective inhibitors of acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGF) but not if they were exposed to cells and then removed before growth factor addition. They had no effect on serum-stimulated chemotaxis or 3H-thymidine incorporation even when used in the presence of serum. Three anionic substances, heparin, pentosan polysulfate, and suramin, also inhibited RPE chemotaxis and 3H-thymidine incorporation induced by several different growth factors. They were less effective inhibitors of the FGFs than protamine and histone but were better inhibitors of serum-induced effects. Also unlike protamine and histone, the anionic substances maintained their inhibitory effect even when removed before growth factor addition. Since migration and proliferation of RPE cells are important processes in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy, these agents and their mechanism of action deserve further study for potential therapeutic applications.

Retinoic acid promotes density-dependent growth arrest in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

After retinal detachment the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) undergoes a striking phenotypic change. It becomes dedifferentiated, proliferates to form multilayered colonies, and migrates into the subretinal space. These processes are important because they have been implicated in proliferative vitreoretinopathy and poor visual recovery after retinal reattachment; however the mechanisms by which they occur are unknown. In this study, the effect of retinoic acid on RPE cell morphology and growth in culture was examined. Cells grown in the presence of 1 microM retinoic acid do not exhibit cellular overgrowth and maintain characteristics associated with the morphologic appearance of mature RPE cells in vivo. Growth curves and 3H-thymidine incorporation suggest that retinoic acid inhibits RPE cell growth primarily after the cells have reached confluence. It may act by promoting density-dependent growth arrest. Dibutryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate also inhibits RPE cell growth and 3H-thymidine incorporation, but has little effect on cell morphology. However, in combination with retinoic acid it appears to have an additive effect on inhibition of cell growth and maintenance of a morphology like RPE in vivo. Retinoids have been demonstrated to modulate the growth and differentiation of several cell types. They are usually present in high levels in RPE cells. They become depleted in RPE in culture and such depletion may also occur in vivo after retinal detachment. This could play a role in the phenotypic alteration of RPE that occurs in association with retinal detachment.