Compromised Barrier Function in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem-Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Abstract
In diabetic patients, high blood glucose induces alterations in retinal function and can lead to visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy. In immortalized retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cultures, high glucose concentrations are shown to lead to impairment in epithelial barrier properties. For the first time, the induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (hiPSC-RPE) cell lines derived from type 2 diabetics and healthy control patients were utilized to assess the effects of glucose concentration on the cellular functionality. We show that both type 2 diabetic and healthy control hiPSC-RPE lines differentiate and mature well, both in high and normal glucose concentrations, express RPE specific genes, secrete pigment epithelium derived factor, and form a polarized cell layer. Here, type 2 diabetic hiPSC-RPE cells had a decreased barrier function compared to controls. Added insulin increased the epithelial cell layer tightness in normal glucose concentrations, and the effect was more evident in type 2 diabetics than in healthy control hiPSC-RPE cells. In addition, the preliminary functionality assessments showed that type 2 diabetic hiPSC-RPE cells had attenuated autophagy detected via ubiquitin-binding...Continue Reading
References
Citations
Methods Mentioned
Software Mentioned
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Autophagy & Disease
Autophagy is an important cellular process for normal physiology and both elevated and decreased levels of autophagy are associated with disease. Here is the latest research.
Autophagy Networks
Autophagy is a lysosomal pathway that involves degradation of proteins and functions in normal growth and pathological conditions, through a series of complex networks. The catabolic process involves delivery of proteins and organelles to the lysosome. Here is the latest research on autophagy networks.
Autophagy & Model Organisms
Autophagy is a cellular process that allows degradation by the lysosome of cytoplasmic components such as proteins or organelles. Here is the latest research on autophagy & model organisms