Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells - Related Videos
08:28
Experimental Models for Study of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Physiology and Pathophysiology
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Cited by 31 •
2010
We provide a reproducible method for culturing confluent monolayers of human fetal retinal pigment epithelial cells (hfRPE) cells that exhibit morphology, physiology, polarity, and protein and gene expression patterns of adult native tissue. This work has been extended to an animal model of several eye diseases.
10:48
Rapid, Directed Differentiation of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from Human Embryonic or Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
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Cited by 53 •
2017
This protocol describes how to produce retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) from pluripotent stem cells. The method uses a combination of growth factors and small molecules to direct the differentiation of stem cells into immature RPE in fourteen days and mature, functional RPE after three months.
12:45
Development of a Refined Protocol for Trans-scleral Subretinal Transplantation of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells into Rat Eyes
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Cited by 17 •
2017
Subretinal injection has been widely applied in preclinical studies of stem cell replacement therapy for age-related macular degeneration. In this visualized article, we describe a less risky, reproducible and precisely modified subretinal injection technique via the trans-scleral approach to deliver cells into rat eyes.
07:59
Primary Culture of Porcine Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
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2022
Here, an easy-to-follow method to culture primary porcine retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro is presented.
10:19
MicroRNA Expression Profiles of Human iPS Cells, Retinal Pigment Epithelium Derived From iPS, and Fetal Retinal Pigment Epithelium
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Cited by 10 •
2014
The microRNA (miRNA) profiles of human induced-pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) derived from human induced-pluripotent stem (iPS) cells (iPS-RPE), and fetal RPE, were compared.
FAQs
Tight junctions connect neighboring retinal pigment epithelial cells and regulate movement between the retina and its blood supply. This controlled exchange helps preserve the local environment that photoreceptors and other retinal cells require. In biology research, examining junctional organization can help investigators assess how epithelial support and tissue regulation change during aging or retinal disease.
RPE cells phagocytose shed photoreceptor outer segments, removing material that photoreceptors regularly release. This clearance contributes to retinal maintenance and supports continued photoreceptor function. Studying the process allows researchers to investigate how RPE support activities are linked to retinal health and how impaired cellular maintenance may contribute to disease-related changes.
Light absorption by RPE cells helps limit excess light within the retinal environment. This optical support complements their other maintenance functions and contributes to conditions needed for healthy vision. In experimental biology, researchers can consider light handling alongside nutrient transport, waste movement, and outer-segment clearance when evaluating how RPE cells support photoreceptors.
Their central support functions make RPE cells useful for examining how the retina changes over time and in conditions such as age-related macular degeneration. Researchers can study alterations in environmental maintenance, exchange regulation, and photoreceptor material clearance. These investigations connect cellular behavior with broader questions about retinal development, aging, and disease mechanisms.
Cell culture models provide an experimental setting for studying RPE behavior under defined research conditions. Investigators use them to examine cellular support functions, disease mechanisms, and responses to candidate drugs. Because the models can be observed and tested outside the tissue, they help connect RPE biology with controlled studies of retinal health and treatment development.
Stem cell-derived RPE models expand the ways researchers can investigate retinal biology beyond existing cell cultures. They support studies of disease mechanisms and drug responses while also contributing to research on potential cell-based treatments. Their value lies in providing a model system for connecting RPE properties with therapeutic questions relevant to retinal disorders.