Neuronal gene expression and function in the growth-stimulated R28 retinal precursor cell line.
OBJECTIVE
Proliferative retinal progenitor cells that express neuronal characteristics are potentially useful for developmental studies and as experimental graft material. The continuously-growing R28 retinal cell line has been distributed to over 60 laboratories for a variety of studies, yet has not been fully characterized. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the proliferative R28 retinal cell line contains subpopulations of cells that express neuronal mRNAs and proteins characteristic of CNS neurons.


METHODS
To this end, we sought to determine the potential retinal, neuronal, and growth-related characteristics of this retinal cell line through gene expression profiling, coupled with confirmatory immunocytochemistry and electrophysiology.


RESULTS
Despite expression of growth-stimulatory oncogenes and growth-promoting factors, subpopulations of R28 cells express abundant retinal and neuronal markers, as well as the functional capacity to respond to specific neurotransmitters such as dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, and glycine.


CONCLUSIONS
Proliferative R28 cells retain functional neuronal properties that may prove useful in future studies of neuronal differentiation and development.
Seigel
Gail M
GM
Department of Ophthalmology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, NY 14214, USA. gseigel@frontiernet.net
Sun
Wei
W
Wang
Jian
J
Hershberger
David H
DH
Campbell
Lorrie M
LM
Salvi
Richard J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D004594:Electrophysiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000235:genetics; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D006133:Growth Substances; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter