Name: efficient dissection and culture of primary mouse retinal pigment epithelial cells
Uploaded: 2021-02-10T14:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Efficient Dissection and Culture of Primary Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the Ocular Genomics Institute at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

The guidelines of the ARVO Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research were followed.
NOTE: This method has been proven successful with mice of different genetic backgrounds, including C57BL/6J, B10.D2-Hco H2d H2-T18c/oSnJ, and albino mice, at various ages. Preferably use 8 to 12-week-old mice to obtain RPE cells. RPE cells from older mice proliferate less in culture and younger mice have fewer and smaller cells, which requires pooling ey...

<ol>
	<li>Fernandez-Godino, R., Garland, D. L., Pierce, E. A. <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+characterization+of+primary+mouse+RPE+cells.">Isolation, culture and characterization of primary mouse RPE cells.</a> Nature Protocols. 11 (7), 1206-1218 (2016).</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>Konari, K., 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=Development+of+the+blood-retinal+barrier+in+vitro:+Formation+of+tight+junctions+as+revealed+by+occludin+and+ZO-1+correlates+with+the+barrier+function+of+chick+retinal+pigment+epithelial+cells.">Development of the blood-retinal barrier in vitro: Formation of tight junctions as revealed by occludin and ZO-1 correlates with the barrier function of chick retinal pigment epithelial cells.</a> Experimental Eye Research. 61 (1), 99-108 (1995).</li><li>Kay, P., Yang, Y. C., Paraoan, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Directional+protein+secretion+by+the+retinal+pigment+epithelium:+Roles+in+retinal+health+and+the+development+of+age-related+macular+degeneration.">Directional protein secretion by the retinal pigment epithelium: Roles in retinal health and the development of age-related macular degeneration.</a> Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. 17 (7), 833-843 (2013).</li><li>Johnson, L. V., Leitner, W. P., Staples, M. K., Anderson, D. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Complement+activation+and+inflammatory+processes+in+drusen+formation+and+age+related+macular+degeneration.">Complement activation and inflammatory processes in drusen formation and age related macular degeneration.</a> Experimental Eye Research. 73 (6), 887-896 (2001).</li><li>Hageman, G. S., 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=An+integrated+hypothesis+that+considers+drusen+as+biomarkers+of+immune-mediated+processes+at+the+RPE-Bruch's+membrane+interface+in+aging+and+age-related+macular+degeneration.">An integrated hypothesis that considers drusen as biomarkers of immune-mediated processes at the RPE-Bruch's membrane interface in aging and age-related macular degeneration.</a> Progress in Retinal and Eye Research. 20 (6), 705-732 (2001).</li><li>Lommatzsch, 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=Are+low+inflammatory+reactions+involved+in+exudative+age-related+macular+degeneration.">Are low inflammatory reactions involved in exudative age-related macular degeneration.</a> Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. 246 (6), 803-810 (2008).</li><li>Bandyopadhyay, M., Rohrer, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Matrix+metalloproteinase+activity+creates+pro-angiogenic+environment+in+primary+human+retinal+pigment+epithelial+cells+exposed+to+complement.">Matrix metalloproteinase activity creates pro-angiogenic environment in primary human retinal pigment epithelial cells exposed to complement.</a> Investigative Ophthalmology &amp; Visual Science. 53 (4), 1953-1961 (2012).</li><li>Fernandez-Godino, R., Garland, D. L., Pierce, E. 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+local+complement+response+by+RPE+causes+early-stage+macular+degeneration.">A local complement response by RPE causes early-stage macular degeneration.</a> Human Molecular Genetics. 24 (19), 5555-5569 (2015).</li><li>Fernandez-Godino, R., Bujakowska, K. M., Pierce, E. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Changes+in+extracellular+matrix+cause+RPE+cells+to+make+basal+deposits+and+activate+the+alternative+complement+pathway.">Changes in extracellular matrix cause RPE cells to make basal deposits and activate the alternative complement pathway.</a> Human Molecular Genetics. 27 (1), 147-159 (2018).</li><li>Fernandez-Godino, R., Pierce, E. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=C3a+triggers+formation+of+sub-retinal+pigment+epithelium+deposits+via+the+ubiquitin+proteasome+pathway.">C3a triggers formation of sub-retinal pigment epithelium deposits via the ubiquitin proteasome pathway.</a> Scientific Reports. 8 (1), 1-14 (2018).</li><li>Farkas, M. H., 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=Mutations+in+Pre-mRNA+processing+factors+3,+8,+and+31+cause+dysfunction+of+the+retinal+pigment+epithelium.">Mutations in Pre-mRNA processing factors 3, 8, and 31 cause dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium.</a> American Journal of Pathology. 184 (10), 2641-2652 (2014).</li><li>Geisen, P., Mccolm, J. R., King, B. M., Hartnett, E. <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+Barrier+Properties+and+Inducible+VEGF+Expression+of+Several+Types+of+Retinal+Pigment+Epithelium+in+Medium-Term+Culture.">Characterization of Barrier Properties and Inducible VEGF Expression of Several Types of Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Medium-Term Culture.</a> Current Eye Research. 31, 739 (2006).</li><li>Sch&#252;tze, C., 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=Retinal+pigment+epithelium+findings+in+patients+with+albinism+using+wide-field+polarization-sensitive+optical+coherence+tomography.">Retinal pigment epithelium findings in patients with albinism using wide-field polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography.</a> Retina. 34 (11), 2208-2217 (2014).</li><li>Samuels, I. S., Bell, B. A., Pereira, A., Saxon, J., Peachey, N. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Early+retinal+pigment+epithelium+dysfunction+is+concomitant+with+hyperglycemia+in+mouse+models+of+type+1+and+type+2+diabetes.">Early retinal pigment epithelium dysfunction is concomitant with hyperglycemia in mouse models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.</a> Journal of Neurophysiology. 113 (4), 1085-1099 (2015).</li><li>Garland, D. 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=Mouse+genetics+and+proteomic+analyses+demonstrate+a+critical+role+for+complement+in+a+model+of+DHRD/ML,+an+inherited+macular+degeneration.">Mouse genetics and proteomic analyses demonstrate a critical role for complement in a model of DHRD/ML, an inherited macular degeneration.</a> Human Molecular Genetics. 23 (1), 52-68 (2014).</li><li>Fu, 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=The+R345W+mutation+in+EFEMP1+is+pathogenic+and+causes+AMD-like+deposits+in+mice.">The R345W mutation in EFEMP1 is pathogenic and causes AMD-like deposits in mice.</a> Human Molecular Genetics. 16 (20), 2411-2422 (2007).</li><li>Greenwald, S. H., 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=Mouse+Models+of+NMNAT1-Leber+Congenital+Amaurosis+(LCA9)+Recapitulate+Key+Features+of+the+Human+Disease.">Mouse Models of NMNAT1-Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA9) Recapitulate Key Features of the Human Disease.</a> American Journal of Pathology. 186 (7), 1925-1938 (2016).</li><li>Gupta, P. R., 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=Ift172+conditional+knock-out+mice+exhibit+rapid+retinal+degeneration+and+protein+trafficking+defects.">Ift172 conditional knock-out mice exhibit rapid retinal degeneration and protein trafficking defects.</a> Human Molecular Genetics. 27 (11), 2012-2024 (2018).</li><li>Gibbs, D., 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=Isolation+and+culture+of+primary+mouse+retinal+pigmented+epithelial+cells.">Isolation and culture of primary mouse retinal pigmented epithelial cells.</a> Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 533, 347-352 (2003).</li><li>Bonilha, V. L., Finnemann, S. C., 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=Ezrin+promotes+morphogenesis+of+apical+microvilli+and+basal+infoldings+in+retinal+pigment+epithelium.">Ezrin promotes morphogenesis of apical microvilli and basal infoldings in retinal pigment epithelium.</a> Journal of Cell Biology. 147 (7), 1533-1547 (1999).</li><li>Nandrot, E. F., 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=Loss+of+synchronized+retinal+phagocytosis+and+age-related+blindness+in+mice+lacking+&#945;v&#946;5+integrin.">Loss of synchronized retinal phagocytosis and age-related blindness in mice lacking &#945;v&#946;5 integrin.</a> Journal of Experimental Medicine. 200 (12), 1539-1545 (2004).</li><li>Maminishkis, 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=Confluent+monolayers+of+cultured+human+fetal+retinal+pigment+epithelium+exhibit+morphology+and+physiology+of+native+tissue.">Confluent monolayers of cultured human fetal retinal pigment epithelium exhibit morphology and physiology of native tissue.</a> Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 47 (8), 3612-3624 (2006).</li><li>Maminishkis, A., Miller, S. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experimental+models+for+study+of+retinal+pigment+epithelial+physiology+and+pathophysiology.">Experimental models for study of retinal pigment epithelial physiology and pathophysiology.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (45), (2010).</li><li>Brydon, E. M., 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=AAV-Mediated+Gene+Augmentation+Therapy+Restores+Critical+Functions+in+Mutant+PRPF31+/&#8722;+iPSC-Derived+RPE+Cells.">AAV-Mediated Gene Augmentation Therapy Restores Critical Functions in Mutant PRPF31+/&#8722; iPSC-Derived RPE Cells.</a> Molecular Therapy - Methods and Clinical Development. 15, 392-402 (2019).</li><li>Shang, P., Stepicheva, N. A., Hose, S., Zigler, J. S., Sinha, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+cell+cultures+from+the+mouse+retinal+pigment+epithelium.">Primary cell cultures from the mouse retinal pigment epithelium.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. 2018 (133), (2018).</li><li>Bonilha, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Age+and+disease-related+structural+changes+in+the+retinal+pigment+epithelium.">Age and disease-related structural changes in the retinal pigment epithelium.</a> Clinical Ophthalmology. 2 (2), 413 (2008).</li></ol>

While several methods for mouse RPE cell isolation and culture had been developed before1,13,20,22,26,27, Fernandez-Godino&#39;s method first used membrane inserts allowing the efficient growth of the RPE cells in culture for weeks1,9. Another major change in their pr...

This protocol, which was originally reported by Fernandez-Godino et al. in 20161, describes a method to efficiently isolate and culture mouse retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, which form a functional and polarized RPE monolayer within one week on Transwell plates. The&#160;RPE&#160;is a monolayer located in the eye between the neural retina and the Bruch&#39;s membrane. This single layer consists of highly polarized and pigmented epithelial cells joined by tight junctions, exhibiting a hexagonal shape that resembles a honeycomb2. Despite this apparent histological simplicity, the RPE performs a wide variety of functions critical to the retina and the normal visual cycle2,3,4. The main functions of the RPE monolayer include light absorption, nourishment and renewal of photoreceptors, removal of metabolic end products, control of the ion homeostasis in the subretinal space and maintenance of the blood-retinal barrier2,3. The RPE also has an important role in local modulation of the immune system in the eye5,6,7,8,9,10,11. Degeneration and/or dysfunction of the RPE are common features shared by many ocular disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa, Leber congenital amaurosis, albinism, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration12,13,14,15. Unfortunately, the availability of human tissues is limited. Given their highly conserved genetic homology with humans, mouse models represent a suitable and useful tool for studying ocular disorders16,17,18,19. Furthermore, the use of cultured primary RPE cells provides advantages such as genetic manipulation and drug testing that can accelerate the development of new therapies for these vision-threatening disorders9,11.
Existing methods available for mouse RPE isolation and culture lack reproducibly and do not recapitulate the RPE features in vivo with enough reliability. Cells tend to lose pigmentation, hexagonal shape and transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) within a few days in culture13, 20. Since establishing these primary RPE cell cultures from mice is a challenging process, this optimized protocol has been created based on other protocols to isolate RPE cells from rat and human eyes21,22,23 to dissect the mouse eyes, collect the RPE and culture the mouse RPE cells in vitro.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>10 ml BD Luer-Lok tip syringe, disposable</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>309604</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15 ml centrifuge tube</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>21008-103</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 ml centrifuge tube</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>21008-951</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alpha Minimum Essential Medium</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>M4526-500ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Angled micro forceps</td>
			<td>WPI</td>
			<td>501727</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bench-top centrifuge</td>
			<td>any</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CO2 incubator</td>
			<td>Thermo</td>
			<td>HERA VIOS 160I CO2 SST TC 120V</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting microscope</td>
			<td>Any</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#8217;s Phospate Buffered Saline no Calcium, no Magnesium</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>14190144</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dumont #5 45&#176; Medical Biology tweezers, 0.05 x 0.01 mm tip, 11 cm length</td>
			<td>WPI</td>
			<td>14101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>E7023-500ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Falcon Easy-Grip Clear Polystyrene Cell Culture Dish, 35mm</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>353001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td>Hyclone</td>
			<td>SH30071.03</td>
			<td>Heat inactivated.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hank&#8217;s Balanced Salt Solution plus Calcium and Magnesium, no Phenol Red</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>14175095</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hank&#8217;s Balanced Salt Solution plus Calcium and Magnesium, no Phenol Red B6</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>14025092</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES 1M</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15630106</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hyaluronidase</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>H-3506 1G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrocortisone</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>H-0396</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laminar flow hood</td>
			<td>Thermo</td>
			<td>CLASS II A2 4 115V PACKAGECLA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laminin 1mg/ml</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>L2020-1 MG</td>
			<td>Dilute in PBS at 37C to 1mg/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>McPherson-Vannas Micro Scissors 8 cm long</td>
			<td>WPI</td>
			<td>503216</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Non-essential amino acids 100X</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11140050</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N1 Supplement 100X</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>N6530-5ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15140-148</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile Bard-Parker Carbon steel surgical blade size 11</td>
			<td>Fisher-Scientific</td>
			<td>08-914B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Taurine</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T-0625</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue culture treated 12-well plates</td>
			<td>Fisher-Scientific</td>
			<td>08-772-29</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue culture treated 6-well plates</td>
			<td>Fisher-Scientific</td>
			<td>14-832-11</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Transwell supports 6.5 mm</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>CLS3470-48EA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triiodo-thyronin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T-5516</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin-EDTA (0.25%), phenol red</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>25200056</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tweezer, Dumont #5 Medical Biology 11 cm, curved, stainless steel 0.02 x 0.06 mm Mod tips</td>
			<td>WPI</td>
			<td>500232</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vannas Scissors 8cm long, stainless steel</td>
			<td>WPI</td>
			<td>501790</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Whatman Puradisc 25mm Syringe Filters 0.45&#956;m pore size</td>
			<td>Fisher-Scientific</td>
			<td>6780-2504</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

efficient dissection and culture of primary mouse retinal pigment epithelial cells

Eye disorders affect millions of people worldwide, but the limited availability of human tissues hinders their study. Mouse models are powerful tools to understand the pathophysiology of ocular diseases because of their similarities with human anatomy and physiology. Alterations in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), including changes in morphology and function, are common features shared by many ocular disorders. However, successful isolation and culture of primary mouse RPE cells is very challenging. This paper is an updated audiovisual version of the protocol previously published by Fernandez-Godino et al. in 2016 to efficiently isolate and culture primary mouse RPE cells. This method is highly reproducible and results in robust cultures of highly polarized and pigmented RPE monolayers that can be maintained for several weeks on Transwells. This model opens new avenues for the study of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying eye diseases. Moreover, it provides a platform to test therapeutic approaches that can be used to treat important eye diseases with unmet medical needs, including inherited retinal disorders and macular degenerations.

This protocol has been used to isolate and culture RPE cells from genetically modified mice1. No differences have been observed between mouse strains or gender. The results have helped to understand some important aspects of the mechanism underlying ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, which is the most common cause of vision loss among the elderly9. RPE cells isolated following this protocol were completely attached to the membrane insert 24 hours afte...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Efficient Dissection and Culture of Primary Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells at JoVE.com

Efficient Dissection and Culture of Primary Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

This protocol, which was originally reported by Fernandez-Godino et al. in 20161, describes a method to efficiently isolate and culture mouse RPE cells, which form a functional and polarized RPE monolayer within one week on Transwell plates. The procedure takes approximately 3 hours.

Eye disorders affect millions of people worldwide, but the limited availability of human tissues hinders their study. Mouse models are powerful tools to ...

This protocol allows for the efficient isolation and culture of mouse RPE cells. Healthy primary mouse RPE cultures are valuable models to understand the mechanisms of underlying eye diseases. Confluent and viable RPE cultures obtain within three days and can be grown for weeks.This protocol has been successfully used to understand the mechanisms underlying early age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly in developed countries. It is important to visualize the dissection steps. Details are critical for the success of the protocol, for instance, how to handle the eyeballs so that the sclera isn't punched, where exactly cuts should be performed, and how to embed the eye cups in trypsin so that they stay open.Begin with preparing all the necessary reagents for the protocol. Then, start cleaning the eyeball by carefully removing all connective tissue, blood, and muscles, using Dumont number five forceps and angled scissors, without making any cuts in the sclera. Transfer the eyeball to a fresh dish containing three milliliters of HEPES-free HBSS buffer regularly to keep the eye fresh and clean and avoid any contamination.Use the optic nerve as a handle to hold the eyeball and make a hole in the center of the cornea with a sharp carbon steel number 11 blade. Make three incisions in the cornea through the hole with Dumont number five scissors, ensuring that there is sufficient space to remove the lens. Hold the optic nerve and apply slight pressure to the ora serrata with the base of the angled scissors, until the lens comes out completely.Keep the iris epithelium intact to prevent the detachment of the neural retina and RPE during incubation. Place the eye in HEPES-free HBSS buffer. Incubate the eyes without lenses in hyaluronidase solution at 37 degrees Celsius for 45 minutes in a 5%carbon dioxide aerated incubator to detach the neural retina from the RPE.Place each eye in a new well with 1.5 milliliters of cold HBSS HEPES buffer per well and incubate it on ice for 30 minutes. After washing, place each eye into a 35 millimeter culture dish with fresh HBSS HEPES buffer. Cut the cornea through the original incisions with eight centimeter Vannas scissors until the ora serrata is reached, then cut below the ora serrata to remove the iris epithelium and cornea.Hold the ora serrata with curved tweezers and using angled micro forceps, pull away the neural retina, making sure that the RPE layer is not cut. Then, cut the internal attachment to the optic nerve. Cut the optic nerve and transfer each eye cup to a different 12 well plate containing 1.5 milliliters of fresh trypsin-EDTA per well.Ensure that the eye cups remain opened and completely submerged in the trypsin. Incubate the eye cups at 37 degrees Celsius for 45 minutes in a 5%carbon dioxide incubator. Collect each eye cup together with any RPE sheets detached during the trypsin incubation and transfer them into a 12 well plate containing 1.5 milliliters of FBS solution per well.If RPE sheets remain in the trypsin solution, use a micropipette to transfer them to the well with FBS solution. Hold each eye cup by the optic nerve and shake it face down into the 12 well plate containing 1.5 milliliters of 20%FBS in HBSS HEPES buffer until complete detachment of the RPE sheets is achieved. Collect any RPE sheets and RPE clusters with a micropipette, avoiding any white pieces of sclera or choroid, which could contaminate the cultures, and place them in a 15 milliliter tube.Pull two eyes from the same mouse in one tube. Then, centrifuge the RPE mixture at 340 x g for two minutes at room temperature and discard the supernatant. Gently resuspend the RPE pellet in a one milliliter mixture of 0.25%trypsin-EDTA and incubate it for one minute in a water bath at 37 degrees Celsius to disaggregate the RPE sheets into single cells.Then gently pipette up and down 10 times, avoiding bubble formation. Add nine milliliters of freshly prepared RPE medium to dilute and inactivate the trypsin and centrifuge the mixture at 340 x g for two minutes at room temperature. Aspirate the supernatant and carefully resuspend the cell pellet in 150 microliters of RPE medium with 5%FBS.Next, remove PBS from the bottom chamber of the previously prepared laminin coated membrane insert and add 700 microliters of RPE medium to it. Remove the laminin from the upper chamber of the membrane insert and distribute the RPE cell suspension drop-wise and uniformly to the center of the chamber. Place the membrane insert undisturbed in a 5%carbon dioxide incubator at 37 degrees Celsius for at least 24 hours.Then check the membrane insert under the microscope to make sure that most RPE cells are attached to the insert and the confluence is at least 50%Do not change the media during the first 72 hours. RPE cells isolated using this protocol showed the typical RPE size, morphology, and pigmentation. A highly-polarized RPE monolayer with two nuclei joined by tight junctions, along with the presence of apical microvilli and basal infoldings, was observed after one week.Polarization of the RPE monolayer was confirmed by TER values, with the average higher than 200 ohms centimeter squared, which remained stable over time. In phagocytosis assays performed on FITC labeled bovine POS, engulfment and digestion of POS was observed, indicating formation of a functional confluent monolayer of RPE cells. Viable cultures require short dissection time, which is achieved with experience.Some RPE cells may stay attached to the neural retina, but if several RPE sheets remain attached, the protocol will not succeed. Fresh hyaluronidase must be used every time to prevent this problem. These functional primary mouse RPE cell cultures are a valuable tool to study the pathobiology of the RPE in many eye diseases.For example, this protocol made it possible to study the pathobiology of the RPE in a mouse model of macular degeneration.

Research

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Biology

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