Abstract
Purpose: :
An increase in matrix proteins such as fibronectin and collagen1 is observed with the aging in Bruch's membrane. To investigate whether this aging change contributes to the pathogenesis of age related macular degeneration (AMD), we have cultured a human retinal pigment epithelium cell line (ARPE19) on different matrices and examined the change of gene expression profiles.
Methods: :
Visually confluent ARPE19 cells were grown on Matrigel (M group) or fibronectin (F group), then serum was withdrawn for 3days. Total RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed. The gene expression profiles in both groups were compared using microarray analysis.
Results: :
The number of gene expressed higher in F group than M group (more than 1.5 folds) was 30.6% of total genes examined, while 40.8% of total genes were less expressed (less than 0.5 folds) in F group than M group. In the specific gene groups, 33.3% or 37.5% in growth factor genes, 28.0% or 44.0% in apoptosis genes were more or less expressed in F group than M group respectively.
Conclusions: :
It is suggested that fibronectin altered the gene expression of retinal pigment epithelium cells, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of AMD.
Keywords: retinal pigment epithelium • gene microarray