title: Establishment of a human retinal cell line by transfection of SV40 T antigen gene with potential to undergo neuronal differentiation.
abstract: Recently, a number of laboratories have been interested in developing cell lines of ocular tissues to understand the pathogenesis of ocular diseases. Toward this end, we report here the generation of cell lines of human retina by transfection of simian virus SV40 T antigen gene. Established retinal cells grow as a monolayer and exhibit limited serum dependence. Phase-contrast and electron microscopic studies revealed distinct morphological cell types. Immunofluorescence studies showed that the established retinal cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament protein, glycine receptor, synaptophysin, and secretogranin. Cells were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, glutamine synthetase, galactocerebroside, and carbonic anhydrase II. In addition to neuronal features, a small percentage of flat cells were, however, positive for cellular retinaldehyde binding protein, and cells with the phenotype of rod and cone photoreceptor coexpressed opsin and interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein. An important feature of this cell line is that addition of phorbol ester and cAMP induced dramatic changes, with 100% of the cells extending long, thin neuritic processes. Thus, the established retinal cells would be useful for studies dealing with differentiation and plasticity of the cells of the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dutt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Semple
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
mesh_terms: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000235:genetics*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D005136:Eye Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D000242:Cyclic AMP