Koutsonas A, Carstesen D, Henkel C, Walter P, Thumann G, Weinberger AWA. Effects of coagulation on the autofluorescence pattern of ARPE-19 cells: an in vitro study.
Ophthalmic Res 2012;
49:11-9. [PMID:
22964483 DOI:
10.1159/000341740]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2012] [Accepted: 06/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Changes in fundus autofluorescence (AF) are observed in various retinal disorders. Lipofuscin accumulation within the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a source of fundus AF (FAF); however, the causes of short-term increases in FAF observed in inflammatory conditions or after laser treatment are unknown. Here, we describe an RPE cell culture model that is useful for investigations of FAF.
METHODS
ARPE-19 cells were cultured in 2-well chamber slides. Cells were exposed to isolated rabbit photoreceptor outer segments (POS) to mimic in vivo phagocytic activity. The AF of RPE cells exposed to POS was measured before and after focal coagulation of the cultures. AF was measured over a period of 4 weeks. Cell lysates were examined by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis.
RESULTS
The exposure of ARPE cells to POS did not lead to increased AF; however, after coagulation, cells exposed to POS showed a statistically significant increase in AF (p < 0.05). 2D electrophoresis of the cell lysates revealed changes in 3 proteins. One of these proteins, identified by mass spectrometry as ezrin-radixin-moesin-binding phosphoprotein 50, was reduced in the coagulated cell population.
CONCLUSIONS
We have established an in vitro model of RPE cells in culture that can be used to evaluate the development of AF and changes in cellular proteins that accompany laser photocoagulation.
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