Interactions between vitreous-derived cells and vascular endothelial cells in vitreoretinal diseases.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the roles played by vitreous-derived cells in the pathogenesis of vitreoretinal vascular diseases.


METHODS
The vitreous was removed from porcine eyes and small pieces were cultured from which vitreous-derived cells were isolated. Polymerase chain reaction and ELISA were performed to determine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively. The viability of human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) exposed to vitreous-derived cells was assessed by MTT assay.


RESULTS
Expression of the mRNA and protein of VEGF and IL-6 was increased by exposing the porcine vitreous-derived cells (PVDCs) to interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), but not to VEGF or IL-6. The percentage of living human vascular endothelial cells was increased by including VEGF and IL-6 in the culture media. The viability of HRECs was affected by co-culturing them with PVDCs that had been exposed to IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, TNFalpha and VEGF.


CONCLUSIONS
Porcine vitreous-derived cells are stimulated by IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and TNFalpha, and produce VEGF and IL-6, which then enhance the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. This network, including the cytokines and different types of cells, may contribute to the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinal diseases.
Tojo
Naoki
N
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan. tojo2005nm@yahoo.co.jp
Kashiwagi
Yoshiko
Y
Nishitsuka
Koichi
K
Yamamoto
Shuichi
S
Asao
Hironobu
H
Sugawara
Naoto
N
Yamashita
Tetsuji
T
Yamamoto
Teiko
T
Yamashita
Hidetoshi
H
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000166:cytology; D013552:Swine; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000209:etiology; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A