Characteristics of iris and retinal pigment epithelial cells cultured on collagen type I membranes.
OBJECTIVE
Transplantation of pigment epithelial cells is a promising treatment modality to repair retinal damage in age-related macular degeneration. For this purpose, it is necessary to establish cell culture techniques that allow acquisition of proper functional and morphological characteristics by the cells to be transplanted.


METHODS
Primary retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) and iris pigment epithelial (IPE) cells grown to confluence on collagen membranes were examined for morphology, adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis, as well as viability after ex vivo transplantation.


RESULTS
Pigment epithelial cells adhere, proliferate, form monolayers, acquire differentiated properties, and remain viable during transplantation to the subretinal space.


CONCLUSIONS
Pigment epithelial cells cultured on collagen membranes acquire differentiated characteristics and are amenable to be transplanted as cell monolayers.
Department of Ophthalmology and IZKF BIOMAT., RHWTH Aachen University, Germany. G.Thumann@uni-koeln.de
Gabriele
G
Thumann
Arno
A
Hueber
Sven
S
Dinslage
Frank
F
Schaefer
Tsutomu
T
Yasukawa
Bernd
B
Kirchhof
Yousef
Y
Yafai
Wolfram
W
Eichler
Andreas
A
Bringmann
Peter
P
Wiedemann
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007498:Iris / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation; D008566:Membranes; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation; D013552:Swine
D024042:Collagen Type I