Alterations of sensory retinal explants exposed to choroidal melanoma cells ex vivo.
BACKGROUND
Cultures of retinal explants have been established as a useful tool to investigate effects of pathogenic agents in vitro. We used such cultures as a model to study the effects of choroidal melanoma on retinal organisation and function.


METHODS
Rabbit retinal explants were co-cultured with human choroidal melanoma cells, or exposed to supernatants from choroidal melanoma cell cultures, for various periods from 1 day to 10 days. The retinal explants were then studied by histology and immunocytochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin. The release of the pro-inflammatory interleukins IL-6 and IL-8 into the media was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Both in the co-cultures and after treatment with choroidal melanoma cell supernatants for more than 1 week, the layered structure of the retinae became disorganised. Retinal glial (Müller) cells displayed gliosis as indicated by increased GFAP immunoreactivity and decreased immunoreactivity for vimentin. Additionally, the secretion of cytokines, particularly of IL-8, was significantly modulated. The retinal explants produced much less IL-8 than the melanoma cells in separate cultures but increased their IL-8 release significantly after a few days' exposure to melanoma cell-conditioned medium.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that in cases of choroidal melanoma, the well-known morphological and inflammatory alterations of the retina are accompanied by glial cell reactivity and up-regulated retinal cytokine secretion, and may be caused by soluble factors secreted and induced by the melanoma.
Enzmann
V
V
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 10-14, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. enzv@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Germer
A
A
Francke
M
M
Kohen
L
L
Wiedemann
P
P
Reichenbach
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D003470:Culture Media; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014746:Vimentin