Biomedical subjects

Brian S McKay

Publications and source records attributed to Brian S McKay.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Retinal pigment epithelial cell transplantation could provide trophic support in Parkinson's disease: results from an in vitro model system.

Transplantation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in the basal ganglia could provide a novel cell-based therapy for Parkinson's disease by providing a constant source of dopamine replacement via the melanin synthetic pathway enzyme tyrosinase. We now demonstrate that human RPE cells also produce a neurotrophic effect on primary cultures of rat striatal (enkephalinergic) and mesencephalic (dopaminergic) neurons. Differentiation of RPE cells to a pigmented monolayer using a Ca(++)-switch protocol increased the potency of the neurotrophic effect on dopaminergic neurons. Conditioned medium derived from differentiated RPE cells increased neurite outgrowth in dopaminergic neurons by 125% compared to 25% for undifferentiated RPE cells. The neurotrophic effect was not due to tyrosinase activity. Differentiation of RPE cells doubled the production of pigment-derived epithelial factor (PEDF). However, PEDF accounted for only a portion of the neurotrophic effect as determined by depletion experiments and dose-response comparisons with purified PEDF, indicating that differentiation increased the production of other trophic factors as well. Conditioned medium from differentiated RPE cells also provided a neurotrophic effect on a subset of enkephalinergic striatal neurons increasing neurite outgrowth by 78%. Survival of enkephalinergic neurons in vitro was increased by RPE conditioned medium. In untreated cultures the number of enkephalinergic neurons declined 62% over a 2-week period compared to a 29% decline in RPE-treated cultures. These results indicate that transplantation RPE cells could potentially provide a dual benefit in Parkinson's disease producing both dopamine and neurotrophic support of the basal ganglia.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Ca++-switch induction of RPE differentiation.

Cultured retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are commonly used as a model of the tissue to study their involvement in visual diseases. Unfortunately, cultured RPE often lose their differentiated phenotype reducing their usefulness as a model of the RPE in vivo. In this study, we used a Ca++-switch protocol to initiate the patterned expression of several phenotypic and functional markers of RPE differentiation. Cultured RPE cells from adult donors were maintained through at least six serial passages prior to assay to minimize their differentiated properties. The cells were then subjected to the Ca++-switch protocol and maintained at confluence for up to 4 months. Paired control and Ca++-switch cells were examined for phenotype, pigmentation, and the expression of tyrosinase, CRABP, myocilin, and bestrophin by western blot analysis. The Ca++-switch protocol led to a rapid restriction of N-cadherin to lateral cell borders, and to expression of tyrosinase by day 4. After 8 weeks, the experimental RPE monolayers began to accumulate visible pigment, and after 12 weeks CRABP expression was observed. Myocilin was observed at 4 months after the Ca++-switch but bestrophin was not detected at any time point. Our results suggest this protocol may drive epithelial morphogenesis in RPE cells. We note two specific differences in cells plated in low Ca++, reduced spreading on the substrate and coordinated development of cadherin adhesion when the Ca++-concentration is returned to normal. Thus, we suggest that this method produces phenotypic changes through multiple cell signalling pathways.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Alterations in human trabecular meshwork cell homeostasis by selenium.

Epidemiological evidence indicates that selenium supplementation may increase risk for glaucoma and ocular hypertension. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of selenium on trabecular meshwork cells, a likely site of pathology for glaucoma. Human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with selenium (MSeA) at or near physiologically relevant concentrations. Selenium uptake by cells was monitored using mass spectrometry. Alterations in protein secretion, intracellular signaling, and cell morphology were monitored; and the role of integrin signaling in MSeA-induced morphological alterations was investigated using divalent cation treatments. Radiolabeling was used to assess protein synthesis and secretion, while luciferase and MTT assays monitored total cellular ATP and cell viability, respectively. Whereas detectible changes in intracellular selenium were observed after exposure to 1-10 microM MSeA for 24hr, the majority remained in the conditioned medium. Selenium-induced morphological changes (< or =3 hr) occurred before alterations in protein secretion and intracellular signaling (3-6 hr). Zinc treatment prevented selenium-mediated alterations in protein secretion and changes in cell-matrix adhesion. MSeA treatment (5 microM) led to a 60% decrease in protein synthesis after 3 hr and a 30% reduction in secretion, although significant alterations in cell viability and total ATP were not observed after MSeA treatment. Selenium altered several indicators of HTM cell homeostasis, but did not affect viability at physiologically relevant doses. Similar results with HUVECs have implications for understanding selenium's mechanisms of action as an anti-angiogenic agent.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Barriers to productive transfection of trabecular meshwork cells.

PURPOSE: A critical function of trabecular meshwork cells is to degrade cellular debris, including DNA. We hypothesize that low transfection efficiencies of primary human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cell cultures with plasmid DNA are a function of retained capacity to efficiently degrade exogenous DNA in vitro. METHODS: To determine mechanisms responsible for low transfection efficiencies of cultured HTM cells, steps of DNA entry into cytoplasm and nucleus were characterized. Following synchronization with sequential serum starvation and serum reintroduction, the HTM cell cycle was characterized using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation into replicating DNA. HTM cells were transfected during S-phase with plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescence protein (GFP) or plasmid DNA conjugated with Cy3. In some experiments, cells were treated with a DNase I inhibitor, 100 nM aurintricarboxylic acid. Uptake of plasmid DNA was measured by intracellular fluorescence of Cy3 and productive transfection efficiency was measured by intracellular fluorescence of GFP. RESULTS: HTM cells enter S-phase between 18 and 20 h after synchronization. Plasmid DNA reached the cytosolic compartment in 95% of transfected cells, regardless of synchronization. Synchronization dramatically increased productive transfection efficiency in HTM cells, from 3.0 to 9.0%. DNase I inhibition increased productive transfection efficiency of HTM cells two fold. CONCLUSIONS: Cultured HTM cells have a lower transfection efficiency than other primary ocular cell cultures, likely due partially to cytoplasmic digestion of DNA. We suggest that the difficulties in transfecting cultured HTM cells may be related to the filter function of the cells in vivo where the cells must degrade exogenous DNA.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Extracellular trafficking of myocilin in human trabecular meshwork cells.

Myocilin (MYOC) is a protein with a broad expression pattern, but unknown function. MYOC associates with intracellular structures that are consistent with secretory vesicles, however, in most cell types studied, MYOC is limited to the intracellular compartment. In the trabecular meshwork, MYOC associates with intracellular vesicles, but is also found in the extracellular space. The purpose of the present study was to better understand the mechanism of extracellular transport of MYOC in trabecular meshwork cells. Using a biochemical approach, we found that MYOC localizes intracellularly to both the cytosolic and particulate fractions. When intracellular membranes were separated over a linear sucrose gradient, MYOC equilibrated in a fraction less dense than traditional secretory vesicles and lysosomes. In pulse-labeling experiments that followed nascent MYOC over time, the characteristic doublet observed for MYOC by SDS-PAGE did not change, even in the presence of brefeldin A; indicating that MYOC is not glycosylated and is not released via a traditional secretory mechanism. When conditioned media from human trabecular meshwork cells were examined, both native and recombinant MYOC associated with an extracellular membrane population having biochemical characteristics of exosomes, and containing the major histocompatibility complex class II antigen, HLA-DR. The association of MYOC with exosome-like membranes appeared to be specific, on the extracellular face, and reversible. Taken together, data suggest that MYOC appears in the extracellular space of trabecular meshwork cells by an unconventional mechanism, likely associated with exosome-like vesicles.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2004

Effect of NF-kappa B inhibition on TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in human RPE cells.

PURPOSE: In many cell types, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced apoptosis is prevented by production of TNF-alpha-induced antiapoptotic protein, a process mediated by nuclear transcription factor (NF)-kappa B. TNF-alpha is widely expressed in proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) membranes and is present in the vitreous of eyes with PVR. To understand mechanisms responsible for RPE cell survival and death in this disease, this study was conducted to determine whether specific NF-kappa B blockade by mutant inhibitory (I)-kappa B (I kappa B) affects TNF-alpha-induced cell death. METHODS: Cultured human RPE cells and T-98G cells were infected with adenovirus encoding either beta-galactosidase or mutant I kappa B and then treated with TNF-alpha or interleukin (IL)-1 beta. I kappa B, inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP)-1, and cellular Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) expression was determined by Western blot. Functional NF-kappa B activation was examined by luciferase reporter assay. Cell viability was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion assay. Caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Mutant I kappa B expression blocked cytokine-induced I kappa B degradation and NF-kappa B transcriptional activity in RPE cells and T-98G cells. RPE cells were resistant to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, even after NF-kappa B activation was specifically blocked. In contrast, TNF-alpha dramatically induced apoptosis in T-98G cells after NF-kappa B inhibition. c-IAP1 expression was not affected by TNF-alpha or mutant I kappa B, and mutant I kappa B abolished TNF-alpha-induced c-FLIP induction in RPE cells. CONCLUSIONS: RPE cells are resistant to TNF-alpha-induced cell death, even after NF-kappa B activation is specifically blocked. RPE cell resistance to apoptotic signals present in eyes with PVR, mediated by survival factors such as c-FLIP and c-IAP1, may help to explain unwanted and unchecked cell proliferation in this disease.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2003

Effect of mutant IkappaB on cytokine-induced activation of NF-kappaB in cultured human RPE cells.

PURPOSE: The nuclear transcription factor (NF)-kappaB is a central regulator of multiple inflammatory cytokines. The current study was conducted to determine whether infection of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells by adenovirus carrying a mutant inhibitory (I)-kappaB (IkappaB) transgene inhibits cytokine-induced activity of NF-kappaB and expression of NF-kappaB-dependent cytokines by preventing degradation of IkappaB. The persistence of recombinant protein expression and function after the viral infection was also examined. METHODS: Cultured human RPE cells were infected with adenovirus encoding either beta-galactosidase (LacZ) or mutant IkappaB and were treated with interleukin (IL)-1beta or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. IkappaB protein expression was determined by Western blot. NF-kappaB nuclear translocation was evaluated by immunofluorescence, and functional NF-kappaB activation was determined by luciferase reporter assay. NF-kappaB-dependent cytokine gene expression was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. IL-1beta-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 protein secretion was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Stimulation of RPE cells with IL-1beta or TNF-alpha caused rapid degradation of the endogenous, but not mutant, IkappaB protein. Expression of the mutant IkappaB isoform inhibited cytokine-stimulated NF-kappaB nuclear translocation, NF-kappaB transcriptional activity, NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression, and secretion of MCP-1. Significant levels of mutant IkappaB protein were expressed for at least 7 weeks after infection. CONCLUSIONS: Infection of human RPE by an adenoviral vector carrying a mutant IkappaB transgene blocks NF-kappaB activation and expression of multiple NF-kappaB-dependent cytokine genes over an extended period. This technique will be useful to determine the role of NF-kappaB in experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), and may offer a novel approach to treatment of PVR with a gene therapy approach.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

PubMed2003

Aquaporin-1 channels in human retinal pigment epithelium: role in transepithelial water movement.

PURPOSE: Aquaporin (AQP) is a hexahelical integral membrane protein that functions as a constitutive channel for water and regulated channel for cations in fluid transporting tissues, including many in the eye. Although AQP1 has been cloned from a cDNA library prepared from cultures of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells isolated from human fetal tissue, three separate studies failed with various immunochemical techniques to detect AQP1 protein in adult human or rat RPE preparations. The purpose of this study was to examine specifically the expression and distribution of AQP1 in adult human RPE in situ by using alternative methodologies and model systems and to determine the contribution of AQP1 to water movement across cultured RPE cells isolated from human cadaveric and fetal eyes. METHODS: AQP1 in human RPE in situ was determined after biotinylation of proteins on cell surfaces and streptavidin chromatography, followed by immunoblot analyses. AQP1 distribution in a polarized in vitro RPE model was determined with indirect immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. The role of channel-mediated transport of water across RPE cell monolayers on filters was assessed by osmotic challenge assay. Expression levels of AQP1 were controlled with an adenovirus expression system and monitored by immunoblot analyses. RESULTS: AQP1 protein was detected in human RPE in situ and in cultures of human adult and fetal RPE cells. In functional assays, AQP1 facilitated water movement across RPE monolayers in an expression-dependent manner in two complementary model systems. CONCLUSION: The expression of AQP1 by RPE in vivo probably contributes to the efficient transepithelial water transport across RPE, maintains retinal attachment, and prevents subretinal edema.

Adenoviridae↗