title: The cytoskeletal intermediate filaments of canine retinal pigment epithelial cells in vivo and in vitro.
abstract: The cytoskeletal intermediate filament characteristics of normal, freshly isolated and subcultured canine retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were studied using immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting techniques. Commercially available primary antibodies recognising a broad range of cytokeratins and vimentin were selected. Cytokeratin reactivity was a constant feature of all canine RPE cells. The main cytokeratins expressed by cultured RPE cells included 8, 18 and 19. This finding is consistent with the published findings of work carried out in other mammalian species including man. Freshly isolated RPE cells stained positively with broad-spectrum antibodies to cytokeratins but generally did not stain with antibodies specific to cytokeratins 18 or 19 and did not stain with antibodies to vimentin, or stained only very weakly. After a short time in culture however, cells demonstrated intense positive staining for vimentin. This study demonstrated that cytokeratin immunoreactivity (in conjunction with vimentin immunoreactivity in vitro) is a useful and consistent marker for canine RPE cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: McLellan
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Bedford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis*; D008322:Mammals; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins