Influence of Donor Age on Proliferation and Metabolism of Human RPE Cells After Exposure to Ethanol and Cyclosporin A

Abstract

Purpose:: Cultures of human donor RPE cells serve an established basis for toxicity tests. Little only, however, is known about the impact of donor age on the cell response after exposure to toxic agents. We therefore wished to compare RPE cell cultures from younger and older human donors according to their cell proliferation and metabolism.

Methods:: RPE cells in passages 4 to 10 from 12 human donors of less (group 1; n=6) or more than 60 years (group 2; n = 6) were compared under standard cell culture conditions regarding response of cell proliferation and metabolism (Calcein AM uptake) after exposure to ethanol and cyclosporine A. The results were compared to those obtained using the well established immortalized ARPE-19 cell line. For statistical significance, Student’s T test was used at a cut off of p = 0.01.

Results:: Despite a marked difference in donor age (mean age of younger donors 33.2 ±11.2 years, and 60.3 ±11.2 years for older donors; p = 0.0005), human RPE cell cultures did not reveal differences in cell proliferation and metabolism after exposure to higher doses of Cyclosporin A and ethanol. Cells derived from younger donors, however, tended to be less responding to lower doses of ethanol. Differences to the commercially available immortalized ARPE-19 cell line were not revealed.

Conclusions:: There is no obvious difference between young and old donors regarding RPE proliferation and metabolism in cell culture after exposure to toxic agents. Cells derived from younger donors may though be more resistant to low drug concentrations.

Keywords: retinal pigment epithelium • aging • cell survival