HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fautsch, M. P. Articles by Johnson, D. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fautsch, M. P. Articles by Johnson, D. H.

Primary Trabecular Meshwork Cells Incubated in Human Aqueous Humor Differ from Cells Incubated in Serum Supplements

¹From the Department of Ophthalmology and ²Proteomics Research Center, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.

PURPOSE. To determine whether aqueous humor, the in vivo source of nutrients for trabecular meshwork cells, alters cellular and molecular characteristics in primary trabecular monolayer cell cultures when compared with standard culture conditions.

METHODS. Human primary trabecular meshwork cell cultures were grown in DMEM supplemented with 50% human aqueous humor (DMEM-AH), heat-denatured DMEM-AH, 10% fetal bovine serum (DMEM-FBS, the standard culture supplement), or heat-denatured DMEM-FBS. Confluent trabecular cells were assayed for cell propagation and morphology for 21 days. Protein expression profiles of trabecular cell lysates were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Western blot analysis was used to determine the protein expression of myocilin and TIMP-1 in conditioned media collected from trabecular cells at 5, 10, 15, and 21 days. Myocilin expression was also analyzed by Western immunoblots after addition of dexamethasone (10^–7 M) or ascorbic acid (29 mg/dL).

RESULTS. Trabecular cells supplemented with DMEM-AH for 21 days showed decreased cell proliferation when compared with DMEM-FBS (11% vs. 141%). Cellular morphology was also altered: Trabecular cells incubated in DMEM-AH showed larger-, broader-, and flatter-appearing cells than did the more spindle-shaped cells grown in DMEM-FBS. Protein profiles of trabecular cell lysates isolated from cells incubated in DMEM-AH differed from those incubated in DMEM-FBS. In DMEM-AH-conditioned medium, myocilin expression was increased and TIMP-1 expression was decreased at day 21. Induction of myocilin by dexamethasone was observed in conditioned medium isolated from cells treated with DMEM-FBS (442%), but only a 10% increase in myocilin was observed beyond the normal induction in DMEM-AH. Daily administration of ascorbic acid to DMEM-AH failed to increase myocilin expression beyond that obtained with DMEM-AH.

CONCLUSIONS. Addition of human aqueous humor rather than FBS to trabecular monolayer cell cultures triggers significant changes in cellular and molecular characteristics. The protein component of aqueous humor is responsible for these changes. Aqueous humor supplementation may maintain cultured trabecular cells in a more physiologic state.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Bachmann, M. Birke, D. Kook, M. Eichhorn, and E. Lutjen-Drecoll Ultrastructural and Biochemical Evaluation of the Porcine Anterior Chamber Perfusion Model Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., May 1, 2006; 47(5): 2011 - 2020. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]