In vitro stimulation of retinal pigment epithelium proliferation by taurine.
Taurine is an amino acid that is essential for retinal integrity and function. Although it has been suggested that the ratio of melatonin to taurine in the interphotoreceptor matrix may regulate the phagocytosis of outer segments by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, the effect of taurine on the RPE has not been studied. Using cultured RPE cells, we found that in vitro taurine specifically stimulated proliferation of human and rabbit RPE, but had only minimal effect on cultured scleral fibroblasts. The RPE proliferation was due to more cells entering into S-phase and thus an increase in DNA synthesis, was not dependent upon cell density, and was most pronounced in the presence of a low concentration of fetal bovine serum.
Gabrielian
K
K
Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033.
Wang
H M
HM
Ogden
T E
TE
Ryan
S J
SJ
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D012590:Sclera / Q000187:drug effects; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D003470:Culture Media; D013654:Taurine