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Title: The effect of retinal pigment epithelial cell patch size on growth factor expression

Journal Article · · Biomaterials
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
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The spatial organization of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells grown in culture was controlled using micropatterning techniques in order to examine the effect of patch size on cell health and differentiation. Understanding this effect is a critical step in the development of multiplexed high throughput fluidic assays and provides a model for replicating disease states associated with the deterioration of retinal tissue during age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Microcontact printing of fibronectin on polystyrene and glass substrates was used to promote cell attachment, forming RPE patches of controlled size and shape. These colonies mimic the effect of atrophy and loss-of-function that occurs in the retina during degenerative diseases such as AMD. After 72 hours of cell growth, levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an important biomarker of AMD, were measured. Cells were counted and morphological indicators of cell viability and tight junction formation were assessed via fluorescence microscopy. As a result, up to a twofold increase of VEGF expression per cell was measured as colony size decreased, suggesting that the local microenvironment of, and connections between, RPE cells influences growth factor expression leading to the initiation and progression of diseases such as AMD.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1185385
Journal Information:
Biomaterials, Vol. 35, Issue 13; ISSN 0142-9612
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 12 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (23)

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Cited By (4)

Printable Graphene Oxide Micropatterns for a Bio-Subretinal Chip journal July 2018
A bilayer photoreceptor-retinal tissue model with gradient cell density design: A study of microvalve-based bioprinting journal March 2018
A computational study of VEGF production by patterned retinal epithelial cell colonies as a model for neovascular macular degeneration journal August 2017
Effect of Daily Light on c-Fos Expression in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus under Jet Lag Conditions journal January 2018

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Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
microcontact printing
retinal pigment epithelial
tight junctions
VEGF
in vitro model
micropatterning