Open AccessSpontaneous generation of a novel foetal human retinal pigment epithelium ( RPE ) cell line available for investigation on phagocytosis and morphogenesis
Author(s) -
Shao Zhihua,
Wang Haiyun,
Zhou Xuejian,
Guo Baosen,
Gao Xuehu,
Xiao Zengrong,
Liu Meng,
Sha Jihong,
Jiang Chunlian,
Luo Yuping,
Liu Zhixue,
Li Siguang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/cpr.12386
Subject(s) - phagocytosis , retinal pigment epithelium , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , morphogenesis , cell culture , in vitro , western blot , epithelium , immunofluorescence , retina , gene , immunology , genetics , antibody , neuroscience
Objectives Primary retinal pigment epithelium ( RPE ) cells have a limited capacity to re‐establish epithelial morphology and to maintain native RPE function in vitro, and all commercially available RPE cell lines have drawbacks of morphology or function ; therefore, the establishment of new RPE cell lines with typical characteristics of RPE would be helpful in further understanding of their physiological and pathological mechanisms. Here, we firstly report a new spontaneously generated RPE line, fh RPE ‐13A, from a 13‐week aborted foetus. We aimed to investigate its availability as a RPE model. Materials and methods RNA ‐seq data were mapped to the human genome assembly hg19. Global transcriptional data were analysed by Weighted Gene Co‐expression Network Analysis ( WGCNA ) and differentially expressed genes ( DEG s). The morphology and molecular characteristics were examined by immunofluorescence, transmission electron micrographs, PCR and western blot. Photoreceptor outer segments ( POS ) phagocytosis assay and transepithelial resistance measurement ( TER ) were performed to assess phagocytic activity and barrier function, respectively. Results The fh RPE ‐13A cells showed typical polygonal morphology and normal biological processes of RPE . Meanwhile they were capable of POS phagocytosis in vitro, and the expression level of TYR and TYRP 1 were significantly higher than that in ARPE ‐19 cells. Conclusions The foetal human RPE line fh RPE ‐13A is a valuable system for researching phagocytosis and morphogenesis of RPE in vitro.