Abstract
Purpose :
To examine morphologic, genotypic and phenotypic alterations of cultured adult human retinal pigment epithelial (ahRPE) cells when encapsulated with different concentrations of fibrin glue.
Methods :
Cultivated ahRPE cells were encapsulated with different concentrations of fibrin Glue: FG1 (42 mg / dl),FG2, FG2 (84 mg /dl),FG3, FG3 (124 mg /dl),FG4, and FG4 (210 mg /dl), followed by genetic, cytomorphologic, and protein expression investigations.
Results :
Cultured ahRPE cells demonstrated dendritiform morphology in early days of encapsulation with FG. Moreover, an increasing inhibitory effect on cell growth was observed with increased concentration of FG. At the transcriptional level, gene expressions of MMP2, PAX6, and integrin β1 in FG1-encapsulated cells were significantly higher than other treated groups; however, the expression of ACTA2 gene was decreased in all FG-encapsulated groups as compared to the controls. FG2-encapsulated cells expressed cytokeratin 8/18, RPE65, and ZO-1 proteins on immunocytochemistry with no expression of PAX6.
Conclusions :
Fibrin glue with the concentration of 84 mg /dl provides proper encapsulation of ahRPE cells while preserving morphometric, genotypic, and phenotypic features of the cells. This 3D biopolymer can be considered as a reliable vehicle for RPE cells transplantation in cell-based therapies.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.