Nano-characterization of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells
Human eye as a sense organ allows vision. The optics of the eye creates an image of the visual
world on the retina, which serves much the same function as the film in a camera. Tissues that
reside at the back of the eye are collectively called the retina. The retina (see FIG below) contains
two main layers: an inner neural retina and an outer pigmented retina. The neural retina is filled
with photoreceptors and cells that process the outputs from the photoreceptor cells and send
them to the brain. The pigmented retina contains the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), which
plays a central role in retinal physiology. The mature, healthy RPE is a mosaic of stationary
polygonal cells interposed between the choroid and the neural retina. The apical side of RPE
cell closely associates with the outer segments of rods and cones, whereas the base attaches
to Bruch´s membrane.
Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the major cause of persistent vision loss in the
time-course of complex retinal detachment. Once established, PVR is difficult to cure and results
in permanent loss of vision. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), adhesion, migration and
proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in concert with the activation of glial cells,
hyalocytes and immune cells are key cellular events in the onset of this disease with EMT of
RPE cells playing a central role. The most obvious characteristic of EMT is the change of cell
morphology. At the molecular level differential expression of cytoskeletal proteins, growth factor
receptors and integrins among others is observed. At the level of cell surface glycosylation native
and dedifferentiated RPE cells harbor different glycomic profiles. Atomic Force Microscopy
(AFM) has the salient ability to explore these characteristics at the nano-scale and on the single
cellular level. In our studies human immortalized RPE cell line (ARPE19) will be used for baseline
measurements in order to nano-characterize the epithelial phenotype of RPE.
For more information please contact:
Lilia Chtcheglova, PhD
Institute of Biophysics
Department of Applied Experimental Biophysics
Johannes Kepler University Linz
Gruberstr. 40
A-4020 Linz
phone: +43(732)2468-7645
email: lilia.chtcheglova@jku.at
JOHANNES KEPLER
UNIVERSITÄT LINZ
Altenberger Straße 69
4040 Linz, Österreich
www.jku.at
DVR 0093696