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 subst...

BACKGROUND The human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of age related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. There is currently no effective treatment available. Preclinical studies in AMD mouse models are essential to develop new therapeutics. This requires further in-depth knowledge of the similarities and differ...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to better understand the role canonical/β-catenin Wnt signaling plays in the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), with the goal of improving methods for derivation. METHODS Fluorescent reporters were generated to monitor RPE differentiating from hESCs by using a previously described 14-day derivati...

The role of chemokine receptor in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains elusive. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of chemokine receptor Cxcr5 in the pathogenesis of AMD. Cxcr5 gene expression levels (mRNA and protein) are higher in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of aged C57BL/6 wild type mice than younger ones. Vascular and glial cells express Cxc...

Living roots and their rhizodeposits can stimulate microbial activity and soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition up to several folds. This so-called rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) varies widely among plant species possibly due to species-specific differences in the quality and quantity of rhizodeposits and other root functions. However, whether the RPE is influenced by plant inter-species in...

AIM To study tissue remodelling and wound healing after retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tears due to age-related macular degeneration. METHODS Retrospective longitudinal study of 36 eyes (33 patients) with RPE tears. Imaging was performed using fundus autofluorescence (FAF) (λ=488 nm) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Presence of intraretinal hyper-reflective dots in...

PURPOSE To purify and characterize retinal pigment epithelial proteins exhibiting uveitogenic characteristics after immunization of Lewis rats, a broad panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) protein antigens, was isolated. METHODS Bovine RPE detergent extracts were used to isolate monoclonal antibodies against RPE antigens. Species and tissue specific...

Retina differentiation involves the acquisition of a precise layered arrangement, with RPE cells in the first layer in intimate contact with photoreceptors in the second layer. Here, we developed an in vitro coculture model, to test the hypothesis that RPE cells play a pivotal role in organizing the spatial structure of the retina. We cocultured rat retinal neurons with ARPE-19 epithelial cells...

PURPOSE To evaluate the generation of the second messenger molecule inositol triphosphate (IP3) in response to phagocytic challenge in cultures of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) prepared from normal Long Evans or dystrophic Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats. METHODS RPE cultures were phagocytically challenged with isolated rat rod outer segments (ROS) or polystyrene latex spheres (PSL). ...