title: Biochemical restoration of aged human Bruch's membrane: experimental studies to improve retinal pigment epithelium transplant survival and differentiation.
abstract: Suspensions of human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (hES-RPE) and human fetal RPE resurface aged and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) Bruch's membrane to a limited degree at day 21 in organ culture. Survival and differentiation of hES-RPE and human fetal RPE on aged or AMD Bruch's membrane are enhanced greatly (200%) if a biologically synthesized extracellular matrix (bovine corneal endothelial cell extracellular matrix) is laid down on Bruch's membrane prior to transplantation. Transplanted RPE survival is enhanced even more (400-1,000%) if Bruch's membrane is treated with bovine corneal endothelial cell-conditioned medium during organ culture of hES-RPE or fetal RPE on aged or AMD Bruch's membrane. Future efforts are focused on identifying the bioactive components of bovine corneal endothelial cell-conditioned medium, so that this material can be reconstituted for clinical use as an adjunct to improve RPE transplant survival and differentiation in AMD eyes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, N.J., USA.
authors.forename: Ilene K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Sugino
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Noounanong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cheewatrakoolpong
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malcuit
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zarbin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016570:Bruch Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000637:transplantation*