title: Electrical estimulation of retinal pigment epithelial cells.
abstract: We investigated and characterized the effect of externally applied electric fields (EF) on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells by exposing primary cultures of human RPE cells (hRPE) and those from the ARPE19 immortalized cell line to various strengths of EF (EF-treated cells) or to no EF (control cells) under different conditions including presence or absence of serum and gelatin and following wounding. We evaluated changes in RPE cell behavior in response to EF by using a computer based image capture and analysis system (Metamorph). We found that RPE cells responded to externally applied EFs by preferential orientation perpendicular to the EF vector, directed migration towards the anode, and faster translocation rate than control, untreated cells. These responses were voltage-dependent. Responses were observed even at low voltages, of 50-300 mV. Furthermore, the migration of hRPE cell sheets generated by wounding of confluent monolayers of cells at early and late confluence could be manipulated by the application of EF, with directed migration towards the anode observed at both sides of the wounded hRPE. In conclusion, RPE cell behaviour can be controlled by an externally applied EF. The potential for externally applied EF to be used as a therapeutic strategy in the management of selected retinal diseases warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Olga Lucia
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Gamboa
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Townend
authors.forename: John V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Forrester
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCaig
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lois
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005780:Gelatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000502:physiology*; D044967:Serum / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D005780:Gelatin