Abstract
Background: The pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is not fully understood. Integrins, a group of cell surface extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors, are thought to play an active role. Integrin-mediated ECM adhesion and vitreous contraction of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were investigated in this study. Methods: Indirect immunofluorescent stain and flow cytometry were used to demonstrate and quantify the expression of integrins on cultured human RPE cells. The functional expression of integrins on RPE cells was evaluated by cell adhesion assay and bovine vitreous contraction assay with specific monoclonal anti-integrin subunit antibodies. Results: Cultured human RPE cells expressed collagen, fibronectin, vitronectin, and laminin receptors on the cell membranes. RPE cells used these integrins to attach to ECM proteins, and the attachment was blocked by integrin-specific monoclonal antibodies. In the vitreous gel model, RPE cells showed divalent-cation dependent vitreous contraction via α2β1 and α3β1 intrgrins. Cytokines enhanced the integrin-mediated vitreous contraction. Conclusion: Human RPE cells express β1 family and α(subscript v)β3 integrins that mediated ECM attachment and vitreous contraction. These integrins on the RPE cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PVR.
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