Name: Author Spotlight: Modeling Retinal Pathologies with Enhanced RPE Cell-Based Disease Models
Uploaded: 2024-05-03T13:20:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Author Spotlight: Modeling Retinal Pathologies with Enhanced RPE Cell-Based Disease Models at JoVE.com

The authors would like to thank Farhad Farjood for help with porcine RPE cell culture and isolation and Thomas Harris for help with SEM. The authors acknowledge the support from the Microscopy Core Facility at Utah State University for the SEM analysis. The facility maintains a scanning electron microscope acquired through a National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Grant (CMMI-1337932). Funding for this study was provided by a National Institutes of Health through Grant 1R15EY028732 (Vargis) and a BrightFocus Foundation Grant M2019109 (Vargis). Additional funding was provided by an Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities Grant (Weatherston) from Utah State University&#39;s Office of Research and a seed grant (Vargis) from Utah State University&#39;s Alzheimer&#39;s Disease and Dementia Research Center.

The eyes used in this procedure are obtained post-mortem from a local, USDA-inspected butcher shop, and no work is performed using live animals. After the animals have been sacrificed, approximately 2 h pass before the eyes are enucleated. As tissue decay may begin to occur, it is important to keep the eyes cool during transport to prevent further decay. In this procedure, the eyes are immediately placed into a refrigerator after enucleation. Subsequently, the bag of eyes is positioned inside a 1000 mL polypropylene beak...

A Cost-Effective Method for Isolating Primary RPE Cells from Porcine Eyes

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S., Rodriguez-Boulan, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Retinal+pigment+epithelium+polarity+in+health+and+blinding+diseases.">Retinal pigment epithelium polarity in health and blinding diseases.</a> Current Opinion in Cell Biology. 62, 37-45 (2020).</li><li>Georgiadis, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+tight+junction+associated+signalling+proteins+ZO-1+and+ZONAB+regulate+retinal+pigment+epithelium+homeostasis+in+mice.">The tight junction associated signalling proteins ZO-1 and ZONAB regulate retinal pigment epithelium homeostasis in mice.</a> PLOS One. 5 (12), e15730 (2010).</li><li>Sparrow, J. R., Hicks, D., Hamel, C. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+retinal+pigment+epithelium+in+health+and+disease.">The retinal pigment epithelium in health and disease.</a> Current Molecular Medicine. 10 (9), 802-823 (2010).</li><li>Strauss, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+retinal+pigment+epithelium+in+visual+function.">The retinal pigment epithelium in visual function.</a> Physiological Reviews. 85 (3), 845-881 (2005).</li><li>Yang, S., Zhou, J., Li, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functions+and+diseases+of+the+retinal+pigment+epithelium.">Functions and diseases of the retinal pigment epithelium.</a> Frontiers in Pharmacology. 12, 727870 (2021).</li><li>Moiseyev, G., Chen, Y., Takahashi, Y., Wu, B. X., Ma, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RPE65+is+the+isomerohydrolase+in+the+retinoid+visual+cycle.">RPE65 is the isomerohydrolase in the retinoid visual cycle.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 102 (35), 12413-12418 (2005).</li><li>Uppal, S., Liu, T., Poliakov, E., Gentleman, S., Redmond, T. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+dual+roles+of+RPE65+S-palmitoylation+in+membrane+association+and+visual+cycle+function.">The dual roles of RPE65 S-palmitoylation in membrane association and visual cycle function.</a> Scientific Reports. 9 (1), 5218 (2019).</li><li>Somasundaran, S., Constable, I. J., Mellough, C. B., Carvalho, L. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Retinal+pigment+epithelium+and+age-related+macular+degeneration:+A+review+of+major+disease+mechanisms.">Retinal pigment epithelium and age-related macular degeneration: A review of major disease mechanisms.</a> Clinical &amp; Experimental Ophthalmology. 48 (8), 1043-1056 (2020).</li><li>Xu, H. Z., Song, Z., Fu, S., Zhu, M., Le, Y. Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RPE+barrier+breakdown+in+diabetic+retinopathy:+seeing+is+believing.">RPE barrier breakdown in diabetic retinopathy: seeing is believing.</a> Journal of Ocular Biology, Diseases, and Informatics. 4 (1-2), 83-92 (2011).</li><li>Hellinen, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+artificially+re-pigmented+ARPE-19+retinal+pigment+epithelial+cell+model.">Characterization of artificially re-pigmented ARPE-19 retinal pigment epithelial cell model.</a> Scientific Reports. 9 (1), 13761 (2019).</li><li>Hazim, R. A., Volland, S., Yen, A., Burgess, B. L., Williams, D. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rapid+differentiation+of+the+human+RPE+cell+line,+ARPE-19,+induced+by+nicotinamide.">Rapid differentiation of the human RPE cell line, ARPE-19, induced by nicotinamide.</a> Experimental Eye Research. 179, 18-24 (2019).</li><li>Samuel, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Appropriately+differentiated+ARPE-19+cells+regain+phenotype+and+gene+expression+profiles+similar+to+those+of+native+RPE+cells.">Appropriately differentiated ARPE-19 cells regain phenotype and gene expression profiles similar to those of native RPE cells.</a> Molecular Vision. 23, 60-89 (2017).</li><li>Middleton, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Porcine+ophthalmology.">Porcine ophthalmology.</a> Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice. 26 (3), 557-572 (2010).</li><li>Farjood, F., Ahmadpour, A., Ostvar, S., Vargis, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Acute+mechanical+stress+in+primary+porcine+RPE+cells+induces+angiogenic+factor+expression+and+in+vitro+angiogenesis.">Acute mechanical stress in primary porcine RPE cells induces angiogenic factor expression and in vitro angiogenesis.</a> Journal of Biological Engineering. 14, 13 (2020).</li><li>Fietz, A., Hurst, J., Joachim, S. C., Schnichels, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Establishment+of+a+primary+porcine+retinal+pigment+epithelium+monolayer+to+complement+retinal+ex+vivo+cultures.">Establishment of a primary porcine retinal pigment epithelium monolayer to complement retinal ex vivo cultures.</a> STAR Protocols. 4 (3), 102443 (2023).</li><li>Hood, E. M. S., Curcio, C. A., Lipinski, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation,+culture,+and+cryosectioning+of+primary+porcine+retinal+pigment+epithelium+on+transwell+cell+culture+inserts.">Isolation, culture, and cryosectioning of primary porcine retinal pigment epithelium on transwell cell culture inserts.</a> STAR Protocols. 3 (4), 101758 (2022).</li><li>Toops, K. A., Tan, L. X., Lakkaraju, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+detailed+three-step+protocol+for+live+imaging+of+intracellular+traffic+in+polarized+primary+porcine+RPE+monolayers.">A detailed three-step protocol for live imaging of intracellular traffic in polarized primary porcine RPE monolayers.</a> Experimental Eye Research. 124, 74-85 (2014).</li><li>Rickabaugh, E., Weatherston, D., Harris, T. I., Jones, J. A., Vargis, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+a+biomimetic+in+vitro+model+of+bruch's+membrane+using+hagfish+slime+intermediate+filament+proteins.">Engineering a biomimetic in vitro model of bruch's membrane using hagfish slime intermediate filament proteins.</a> ACS Biomaterials Science &amp; Engineering. 9 (8), 5051-5061 (2023).</li><li>Harris, T. I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Utilizing+recombinant+spider+silk+proteins+to+develop+a+synthetic+bruch's+membrane+for+modeling+the+retinal+pigment+epithelium.">Utilizing recombinant spider silk proteins to develop a synthetic bruch's membrane for modeling the retinal pigment epithelium.</a> ACS Biomaterials Science &amp; Engineering. 5 (8), 4023-4036 (2019).</li><li>Zou, X. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protection+of+tight+junction+between+RPE+cells+with+tissue+factor+targeting+peptide.">Protection of tight junction between RPE cells with tissue factor targeting peptide.</a> International Journal of Ophthalmology. 11 (10), 1594-1599 (2018).</li></ol>

This protocol describes how to isolate RPE cells from porcine eyes. Pigmentation and cobblestone morphology are seen within 7 days of isolation (Figure 1B). Furthermore, TEER data indicate tight junction formation22 and a healthy monolayer (Figure 5). These results show that RPE cells isolated with this method are similar to human RPE and can be beneficial in retinal cell culture models.
The eyes used in this m...

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a monolayer located in the outer retina&#160;between Bruch&#39;s membrane and the photoreceptors1. RPE cells form tight junctions with proteins such as zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and possess a distinctive phenotype characterized by pigmentation and hexagonal morphology2,3. These cells contribute to the blood-retinal barrier, thereby supporting photoreceptor health and maintaining retinal homeostasis4,5. Additionally, RPE cells play a critical role in vision by absorbing light and recycling essential components for the photoreceptors6. For instance, RPE65, a protein highly expressed in RPE cells, converts all-trans retinyl esters to 11-cis retinol7,8. Given the multitude of functions performed by RPE cells, their dysfunction is implicated in various diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy9,10. To enhance the understanding of retinal pathologies and develop new treatments, in vitro models of the retina are frequently employed.
To generate representative models of healthy or diseased retinas, it is imperative to use a mimetic RPE cell type. The commercially available ARPE-19 cell line lacks native phenotypes, such as pigmentation, while iPSCs can take months to differentiate11,12,13. Although human donor eyes may be ideal, they are often not readily available to many research labs.
Here, we have devised a method to utilize porcine eyes, which share many similarities with human eyes14, for obtaining primary RPE cells. These primary porcine RPE cells have been utilized in multiple retinal models15,16. Not only are these cells cost-effective, but they also require less time to acquire than iPSCs or donor eyes. Additionally, they exhibit native characteristics, such as pigmentation and microvilli. While similar protocols for porcine RPE extraction exist17,18,19, this straightforward and detailed technique further validates enzymatic dissociation and employs materials commonly found in most cell culture laboratories.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>6 Micro-well glass bottom plate with 14 mm micro-well #1 cover glass</td>
			<td>Cellvis</td>
			<td>P06-14-1-N</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antibiotic-Antimycotic (100x)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15240062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biosafety Cabinet</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calcium Chloride, Dried, Powder, 97%</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>L13191.30</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell Strainer</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>22-363-548</td>
			<td>one per eye</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge Tubes, 15 mL</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>05-539-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cooler, 8 L</td>
			<td>Igloo</td>
			<td>32529</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Corning&#160;Transwell Multiple Well Plate with Permeable Polyester Membrane Inserts</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>07-200-154</td>
			<td>Culture inserts</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cut Resistant Glove</td>
			<td>Dowellife</td>
			<td>712971375857</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cytiva&#160;HyClone Dulbecco&#39;s Phosphate Buffered Saline, Solution</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>SH3026401</td>
			<td>for ICC dilutions only&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Deionized Water</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM, 1x with 4.5 g/L glucose, L-glutamine &#38; sodium pyruvate</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>10-013-CV</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DNase I from Bovine Pancreas</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>DN25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DPBS/Modified - calcium - magnesium</td>
			<td>Cytiva</td>
			<td>SH3002B.02</td>
			<td>stored at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ELISA kit, Q-Plex Human Angiogenesis (9-Plex)&#160;</td>
			<td>Quansys Biosciences, Logan, UT</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ENDOHM 6 TEER device</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>Avantor</td>
			<td>232B20</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fisher BioReagents&#160;Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) DNase- and Protease-free Powder</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>BP9706100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Flashlight</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Formaldehyde, ACS Grade, 36.5% (w/w) to 38.0% (w/w), LabChem</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>LC146501</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gauze Sponges</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>22-415-504</td>
			<td>One per eye</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-Mouse IgG (H+L) Highly Cross-Adsorbed Secondary Antibody, Alexa Fluor Plus 647, Invitrogen</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>A32728</td>
			<td>RPE65 secondary antibody</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ice&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Crushed prefered</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Inverted Phase Contrast Microscope</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Invitrogen&#160;NucBlue Live ReadyProbes Reagent (Hoechst 33342)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>R37605</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Iris Fine Tip Scissors, Standard Grade, Curved, 4.5&#34;</td>
			<td>Cole-Palmer</td>
			<td>EW-10818-05</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Iris Scissors, 11 cm, Straight, Tungsten Carbide</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>50-822-379</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LSM-710 Confocal Microscope</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Petri Dish, 100 mm x 20 mm&#160;</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430167</td>
			<td>one per 2-3 eyes and one for dissection surface/waste&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Povidone-Iondine Solution, 10%</td>
			<td>Equate</td>
			<td>49035-050-34</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPE65 Monoclonal Antibody (401.8B11.3D9), Invitrogen</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>MA116578</td>
			<td>RPE65 primary antibody</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel Blades Size 10</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>22-079-683</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel Handles Style 3</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>50-118-4164</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical Drape, 18 x 26&#34;</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>50-209-1792</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue Culture Incubator</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>37 &#176;C, 5% CO2, 95% Humidity</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue Culture Plates, 6 Wells</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>10062-892</td>
			<td>One for eye wash and one for seeding&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tri-Cornered Polypropylene Beaker, 1000 mL</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>14-955-111F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton&#160;X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>T8787</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin 0.25%, 2.21 mM EDTA in HBSS; w/o Ca, Mg, Sodium Bicarbonate</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>25053Cl</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tweezers Style 20A</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>17-467-231</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tweezers Style 2A</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>50-238-47</td>
			<td>for removing neural retina</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tweezers Style 5-SA-PI</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>17-467-168</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vacuum Aspiration System</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Water Bath, 37 &#176;C</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ZO-1 Monoclonal Antibody (ZO1-1A12), FITC, Invitrogen</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>33-911-1</td>
			<td>ZO-1 conjugated primary antibody</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation of primary porcine retinal pigment epithelial cells for in vitro modeling

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a crucial monolayer in the outer retina responsible for supporting photoreceptors. RPE degeneration commonly occurs in diseases marked by progressive vision loss, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Research on AMD often relies on human donor eyes or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to represent the RPE. However, these RPE sources require extended differentiation periods and substantial expertise for culturing. Additionally, some research institutions, particularly those in rural areas, lack easy access to donor eyes. While a commercially available immortalized RPE cell line (ARPE-19) exists, it lacks essential in vivo RPE features and is not widely accepted in many ophthalmology research publications. There is a pressing need to obtain representative primary RPE cells from a more readily available and cost-effective source. This protocol elucidates the isolation and subculture of primary RPE cells obtained post-mortem from porcine eyes, which can be sourced locally from commercial or academic suppliers. This protocol necessitates common materials typically found in tissue culture labs. The result is a primary, differentiated, and cost-effective alternative to iPSCs, human donor eyes, and ARPE-19 cells.

Isolation of Primary Porcine Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells for In Vitro Modeling

Using this procedure, primary RPE cells were successfully isolated from porcine eyes. Figure 1A shows RPE cells 3 days post isolation with characteristic pigmentation. After 1 week of growth, cells were fully confluent and formed a healthy monolayer (Figure 1B). Cells were then transferred to cell culture inserts where they maintained their pigmentation and morphology (Figure 1C), further supporting the efficacy of the isolation pro...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Author Spotlight: Modeling Retinal Pathologies with Enhanced RPE Cell-Based Disease Models at JoVE.com

Author Spotlight: Modeling Retinal Pathologies with Enhanced RPE Cell-Based Disease Models

This protocol outlines the procedure for obtaining and culturing primary retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from locally sourced porcine eyes. These cells serve as a high-quality alternative to stem cells and are suitable for in vitro retinal research.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a crucial monolayer in the outer retina responsible for supporting photoreceptors. RPE degeneration commonly ...

We engineer disease models to mimic aspects of retinal pathologies. With these models, we can better understand the role of RPE cells in diseases based on their response to physical changes, like when strain occurs on the monolayer or a brex membrane thickens with age. One of the biggest challenges is having a representative cell type.Compared to the commonly used immortalized cell line, the primary cells isolated with this technique make our disease models more realistic to what happens in our eyes. This technique provides us with a method of obtaining high quality cells without requiring extensive differentiation times. Furthermore, we use resources that are commonly available to research labs, which makes it more cost effective.Moving forward, we want to look at how natural changes that happen in your eyes during aging, may lead to the early stages of AMD. We want to better understand those changes so we can identify specific treatment targets.