Müller cells do not influence leukocyte adhesion to retinal endothelial cells.
OBJECTIVE
Diabetic retinopathy is associated with inflammation. The authors investigated the influence of Müller cells on leukocyte adhesion to retinal endothelial cells.


METHODS
ICAM-1 levels were assessed by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Leukocyte adhesion was quantified using a fluorescence assay.


RESULTS
High glucose and oxidative/nitrosative stress conditions increased ICAM-1 levels in endothelial cells and leukocyte adhesion. Under the influence of Müller cells (co-cultures/conditioned medium), the effects were comparable to those found when endothelial cells were exposed, alone, to similar conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that Müller cells do not influence leukocyte adhesion under the in vitro conditions used in this study.
Leal
Ermelindo C
EC
Center of Ophthalmology, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Aveleira
Célia A
CA
Castilho
Aurea F
AF
Baptista
Filipa I
FI
Ambrósio
António F
AF
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D009603:Nitroso Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000166:cytology
C093285:NOC 18; D009603:Nitroso Compounds; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005947:Glucose