title: Induced Retro-Differentiation of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells on PolyHEMA.
abstract: Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells represent a great potential to rescue degenerated cells of the damaged retina. Activation of the virtually plastic properties of RPE cells may aid in recovery of retinal degenerative disorders without the need for entire RPE sheet transplantation. Poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)(PolyHEMA) is one of the most important hydrogels in the biomaterials world. This hydrophobic polymer does not normally support attachment of mammalian cells. In the current study we investigated the effect of PolyHEMA as a cell culture substrate on the growth, differentiation, and plasticity of hRPE cells. hRPE cells were isolated from neonatal human globes and cultured on PolyHEMA and polystyrene substrates (as controls) in 24-well culture plates. DMEM/F12 was supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and/or 30% human amniotic fluid (HAF) for cultured cells on polystyrene and PolyHEMA coated vessels. Morphology, rate of cell proliferation and cell death, MTT assay, immunocytochemistry and Real-Time RT-PCR were performed to investigate the effects of PolyHEMA on the growth and differentiation of cultured hRPE cells. Proliferation rate of the cells that had been cultured on PolyHEMA was reduced; PolyHEMA did not induce cell death in the hRPE cultures. hRPE cells cultured on PolyHEMA formed many giant spheroid colonies. The giant colonies were re-cultured and the presence of retinal progenitor markers and markers of hRPE cells were detected in cell cultures on PolyHEMA. PolyHEMA seems to be promising for both maintenance and de-differentiation of hRPE cells and expansion of the retinal progenitor cells from the cultures that are originated from hRPE cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3080-3089, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nazemroaya
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra-Soheila
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1292-465X
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Soheili
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Research Centre High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion, Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samiei
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolkhalegh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deezagi
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmadieh
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Malihe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davari
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Razeih
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.affiliation: Genetic Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abouzar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shamila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darvishalipour-Astaneh
mesh_terms: D054337:Cell Dedifferentiation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate
keywords: PolyHEMA; RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM; RETINAL PROGENITOR CELLS; RETRO-DIFFERENTIATION