Abstract
Purpose::
To characterize morphological and functional properties of monocytes extracted from human peripheral blood, cultured in vitro under conditions maximally approximated to the natural intraocular fluid flow.
Methods::
Monocytes were isolated by means of phycoll-verografin gradient. Two cultures of monocytes were cultivated: 1) Treated monocytes incubated in conditions of continuous one-way flow of nutritional media with flow rate of 2.1-2.4 mm3/min; 2) Control monocytic population cultured in standard (static) conditions. Cells were taken from both cultures in 24, 48, and 72 hours and examined cytochemically and histologically.
Results::
Cytochemical activity of 24 hours-old cells corresponded to normal monocytic profile in both treated and control cultures. After 48 hours, the treated culture showed presence of macrophages and young fibroblastic cells. After 72 hours, the treated culture contained mature fibroblasts and scattered gentle fibrotic fibers, and the macrophages showed increased enzymatic activity. The control culture showed presence of monocytes only at all three time points, however, also found presence of both the macrophages and the fibroblasts at 5-7 days of age.
Conclusions::
Continuous one-way fluid flow, approximated to conditions of intraocular fluid circulation, through the human monocytic cell culture results in reorganization and increase of their enzymatic activity. Modulating influence of microenvironment, including continuous one-way fluid flow and extracellular matrix, accelerates process of differentiation of monocytes into macrophages, and young mesenchymal cells into mature collagen-synthesizing forms. We hypothesize that the observed effects can be considered as important proliferative mechanisms in pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
Keywords: proliferative vitreoretinopathy • pathology: experimental • cell-cell communication