In Vitro Viability of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from Human Donor Eyeballs According to the Environmental Conditions and Periods

ABSTRACT

Retinal pigment epithelial cells(RPE) from a monolayer on the outer portion of sensory retina and have important physiologic functions that include solute transport, phagocytiosis and digestion of membrances shed from photoreceptor outer segments, and drug detoxication. Recently, transplantation of normal RPE has been proposed as a potential therapeutic modality in the surgical management of subretinal neovascularization in age related macular degeneration(ARMD). The viability of RPE at the time of transplantation is important for a good result after transplantation. This viability can be influenced by the period and environmental conditions of storage after harvest.In this study, the influence of these two factors on the viability was evaluated under controlling other remaining factors in vitro. And limitation of masimal time and optimal environmental conditions of storage were investigated.From November 1997 to February 1998, RPE cell sheets from six donor eyeballs for corneal transplantation in the department of ophthalmology of Severance Hospital were harvested and stored in -70degrees C, 4degrees C, or room temperature condotion. The viability of RPE cells at 0, 24 and 48 hours after havest was assessed and compared statistically.The viability was highest at 4degrees C condition. During storage, the viability was about 95% at 24 hours for and decreased abruptly to below 90% at 48 hours. Therefore, RPE cells for transplantation are to be stored at 4degrees C condition and transplantation should be performed within 24 hours after harvest.