Enhancement of dedifferentiation and myoid differentiation of retinal pigment epithelial cells by platelet derived growth factor.

AIMS To clarify factor(s) involved in morphological dedifferentiation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro from mitotically quiescent hexagonal cells to flattened cells that lack epithelial characteristics and concurrent myoid differentiation. METHODS RPE cells which retained their differentiated hexagonal morphology were isolated from bovine eyes by mechanical pipetting. Dedifferentiation and myoid differentiation of RPE cells were examined by microscopic observation and immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies against cytokeratin, an epithelial marker, and alpha smooth muscle actin, a marker of myoid differentiation. The contractile ability of RPE cells was evaluated by collagen gel contraction assay. RESULTS Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) enhanced morphological changes in the RPE from hexagonal-shaped cells to flattened cells. Coincident with this morphological alteration, the expression of cytokeratin in RPE cells decreased and expression of alpha smooth muscle actin began and was increased in a time dependent manner. These alterations were completely blocked by collagen synthesis inhibitors. Interleukin 1beta, transforming growth factor beta1, insulin-like growth factor I, and basic fibroblast growth factor had little or no effect on the dedifferentiation. PDGF also potentiated the RPE induced collagen gel contraction. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that PDGF enhanced the dedifferentiation of RPE cells, the initial step of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), as well as myoid differentiation and collagen gel contraction. PDGF may have a versatile role in the pathogenesis of PVR involving collagen synthesis.