Biomaterial Database

[In vitro transdifferentiation of adult human retinal pigment epithelium cells to neuro-like cells induced by blocking VEGF expression]. 2005

Ji-hong Wu, and Feng Wang, and Ping Xu, and Qian Huang

Central Experimental laboratory, The First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of blocking VEGF expression on the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in vitro. METHODS RPE was transfected with plasmid encoding anti-sense of VEGF by lipofectin. RPE clones with stable expression of anti-sense of VEGF were screened by neomycin (G418). The changes of RPE and the level of VEGF secreted by RPE were observed by immunofluorescence immunohistochemical staining, Elisa and inverted-microscope. RESULTS Transdifferentiation of cultured adult human retinal pigment epithelium cells to neurons was induced by blocking VEGF expression. The transdifferentiation was a direct phenotypic change from RPE cell to neurons without cell differentiation. The transdifferentiated neurons showed up-regulated expression of VEGF receptor 2 (Flk-1) and expressed several markers of retinal ganglion cell, including Thy1.1 and neurofilament. CONCLUSIONS Blocking of VEGF expression and up-regulation of Flk-1 can induce transdifferetiation of adult human retinal pigment epithelium cells into ganglion cells.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D010857	Pigment Epithelium of Eye	The layer of pigment-containing epithelial cells in the RETINA; the CILIARY BODY; and the IRIS in the eye.	Eye Pigment Epithelium
D012160	Retina	The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent.	Ora Serrata
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D016376	Oligonucleotides, Antisense	Short fragments of DNA or RNA that are used to alter the function of target RNAs or DNAs to which they hybridize.	Anti-Sense Oligonucleotide,Antisense Oligonucleotide,Antisense Oligonucleotides,Anti-Sense Oligonucleotides,Anti Sense Oligonucleotide,Anti Sense Oligonucleotides,Oligonucleotide, Anti-Sense,Oligonucleotide, Antisense,Oligonucleotides, Anti-Sense
D042461	Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A	The original member of the family of endothelial cell growth factors referred to as VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTORS. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A was originally isolated from tumor cells and referred to as "tumor angiogenesis factor" and "vascular permeability factor". Although expressed at high levels in certain tumor-derived cells it is produced by a wide variety of cell types. In addition to stimulating vascular growth and vascular permeability it may play a role in stimulating VASODILATION via NITRIC OXIDE-dependent pathways. Alternative splicing of the mRNA for vascular endothelial growth factor A results in several isoforms of the protein being produced.	Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor,Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A,GD-VEGF,Glioma-Derived Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Factor,VEGF,VEGF-A,Vascular Permeability Factor,Vasculotropin,Glioma Derived Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Factor,Permeability Factor, Vascular