In vitro phenotypic modification of pigmented epithelium cells from human eye at early stages of development.
Multipotent characteristics of human fetal (9-11.5 weeks) pigmented epithelial retinal cells and capacity to transdifferentiation in neuronal direction were studied in vitro under different culturing conditions. The cultures were analyzed using a wide spectrum of antibodies. It was found that pigmented epithelium of human eye is a heterogeneous cell population with three subtypes differing by adhesion characteristics, migration, transdifferentiation potential, and reaction to microenvironmental factors. Subtype 1 cells steadily retain their epithelial characteristics, subtype 2 cells change their morphotype and produce neuroblast and photoreceptor cell proteins, and subtype 3 cells form free floating spheres and are capable to multipotent differentiation.
Milyushina
L A
LA
N. K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
Poltavtseva
R A
RA
Marei
M V
MV
Podgornyi
O V
OV
Sukhikh
G T
GT
Aleksandrova
M A
MA
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010641:Phenotype; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000166:cytology*