Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate expression of the NOGO-A gene and its receptors in human amniotic fluid (HAF)-treated human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells compared to fetal bovine serum (FBS)-treated cells.
Methods :
Gene expressions of NOGO-A and its receptors, NgR1 and lingo-1 were investigated and analyzed in 30% HAF- versus FBS-treated hRPE cells by using real time PCR.
Results :
Our results showed that NOGO-A, NgR1 and Lingo-1 are normally expressed in hRPE cells. Gene expressions of NOGO-A, NgR1, and Lingo-1 in HAF-treated hRPE cells were 112 (P < 0.001), 20 (P < 0.001), and 11 (P = 0.014) times higher as compared to values in FBS-treated cells, respectively.
Conclusions :
Increased gene expression of NOGO-A and its receptors support neural differentiation of hRPE cells in the presence of HAF. Our findings provide further evidence on the effectiveness of HAF in trans-differentiation of hRPE cells into neural progenitors and retinal neural cells, which may be of significance in cell replacement therapy.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.