title: Effects of silicone oil and hyaluronic acid on cultured human retinal pigment epithelium.
abstract: An experimental model was developed to evaluate the effects of several vitreous substitutes on human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Cultured RPE cells were grown into confluent monolayers on semipermeable membranes and nourished from the basal side only, while the apical surface was directly and continuously exposed to preparations of hyaluronic acid and silicone oil for up to 4 weeks. In the silicone oil-treated group, multilayer sheets formed within 2 weeks of exposure and incorporation of 3H-thymidine was twice that of controls. Exposure of RPE cells to silicone oil and certain preparations of hyaluronic acid resulted in a three- to fourfold decrease in cellular polarity, as measured by assaying the cell-surface enzyme, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. These results suggest that a model using cultured RPE-cell monolayers is useful in identifying and understanding alterations in ocular tissues triggered by exposure to vitreous replacement materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Verstraeten
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Friberg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reel
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012827:Silicone Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012827:Silicone Oils; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D004247:DNA; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase