PURPOSE To determine the effects of activated monocytes on the induction of human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cell reactive oxygen metabolite (ROM) production and apoptosis. METHODS HRPE cells were co-cultured with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-stimulated human monocytes. HRPE apoptosis was detected by propidium iodide, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and TdT-mediated dUTP nick...

PURPOSE To show (1) human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) expression of functional urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR; CD87), (2) HRPE secretion of collagenase and elastase, (3) uPAR-dependent HRPE migration, and (4) uPAR expression in diseased human retinal tissue. METHODS Immunohistochemistry for uPAR was performed on cultured HRPE cells and in sections of human retina. Double...

PURPOSE To determine the effects of the matricellular protein SPARC (Secreted Protein, Acidic and Rich in Cysteine) on human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cell behavior in vitro. METHODS Proliferation and migration assays were performed on HRPE cells exposed to various concentrations of SPARC. Additionally, HRPE cells were seeded on top of collagen matrices (a 2D model of the retinal scar...

PURPOSE To examine the CD40 costimulatory molecule expression on normal resting or activated adult human retinal pigment epithelium (hRPE) cells and to evaluate its role as an activation molecule considering the potential antigen presentation functions of hRPE cells. METHODS Expression of HLA-DR and costimulatory (CD40, B7.1, B7.2, CD54, and CD58) molecules on hRPE cells was analyzed by flow ...

Mitogenic activities of human retinal pigment epithelial cell-conditioned medium (HRPE-CM) with different effects, such as inhibition, stimulation or no effect, on the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells (EC) in vitro have been reported. In this study, 14 HRPE cell lines were established from normal human eyes. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in the early passages were us...

PURPOSE A cell line spontaneously derived from human retinal pigment epithelium (hRPE) was cultured on alginate film gelatinized with different concentrations of neurobasal cell culture medium (NCCM) to assess its growth and morphological behavior on this naturally occurring polysaccharide. METHODS Neonatal human globes were used to isolate hRPE cells. They were cultured in Dulbecco's modifie...

PURPOSE Little is known about the susceptibility of posterior segment tissues, particularly the human retinal pigment epithelium (hRPE), to Chlamydia trachomatis. The purpose of the study was to investigate the possibility of infecting the hRPE with Chlamydia trachomatis, and to examine the infectivity of different Chlamydia trachomatis clinical isolates for hRPE cells and the hRPE cell respons...

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection on chemokine gene expression and secretion by human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cell cultures. METHODS HRPE cells were infected with HCMV (strain AD169) at an MOI of 5. Culture supernatants, collected at various postinoculation days, were used for the analyses of chemokines by ELISA. The steady state levels of che...

PURPOSE It was previously demonstrated that toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is involved in species-specific human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) photoreceptor outer segment recognition and oxidant production. This study was performed to demonstrate the classical role of TLR4 in HRPE endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) binding leading to HRPE proinflammatory cytokine secretion. METHODS Cultured...

Both hindbrain roof plate epithelium (hRPe) and hindbrain choroid plexus epithelium (hCPe) produce morphogens and growth factors essential for proper hindbrain development. Despite their importance, little is known about how these essential structures develop. Recent genetic fate maps indicate that hRPe and hCPe descend from the same pool of dorsal neuroectodermal progenitor cells of the rhombi...