Biomaterial Database

Retinal pigment epithelial cells release a chemoattractant for astrocytes. 1985

S L Rowen, and B M Glaser

Astrocyte migration was studied using a modified Boyden chamber. Astrocytes migrated in response to a concentration gradient (chemotaxis) of retinal pigment epithelial cell-conditioned medium. In contrast, smooth muscle cell- and corneal fibroblast-conditioned media stimulated random migration (chemokinesis) of astrocytes but not chemotaxis. Furthermore, retinal pigment epithelial cell-conditioned medium stimulates only random migration of smooth muscle cells and corneal fibroblasts. The chemotactic factor produced by retinal pigment epithelial cells appears to have a molecular weight between 10,000 and 30,000 determined by ultrafiltration. Activity is lost after boiling but is stable, with a pH between 2 and 7. These results suggest that in proliferative vitreoretinopathy, retinal pigment epithelial cells on the retina and within the vitreous cavity may release a chemoattractant that stimulates astrocytes to migrate into the vitreous cavity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
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
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
D002633	Chemotaxis	The movement of cells or organisms toward or away from a substance in response to its concentration gradient.	Haptotaxis
D003470	Culture Media	Any liquid or solid preparation made specifically for the growth, storage, or transport of microorganisms or other types of cells. The variety of media that exist allow for the culturing of specific microorganisms and cell types, such as differential media, selective media, test media, and defined media. Solid media consist of liquid media that have been solidified with an agent such as AGAR or GELATIN.	Media, Culture
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001253	Astrocytes	A class of large neuroglial (macroglial) cells in the central nervous system - the largest and most numerous neuroglial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes (from "star" cells) are irregularly shaped with many long processes, including those with "end feet" which form the glial (limiting) membrane and directly and indirectly contribute to the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER. They regulate the extracellular ionic and chemical environment, and "reactive astrocytes" (along with MICROGLIA) respond to injury.	Astroglia,Astroglia Cells,Astroglial Cells,Astrocyte,Astroglia Cell,Astroglial Cell,Astroglias,Cell, Astroglia,Cell, Astroglial
D012377	Rodentia	A mammalian order which consists of 29 families and many genera.	Beavers,Capybaras,Castor Beaver,Dipodidae,Hydrochaeris,Jerboas,Rodents,Beaver,Capybara,Hydrochaeri,Jerboa,Rodent,Rodentias