Microfluidic co-cultures of retinal pigment epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells to investigate choroidal angiogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Angiogenesis plays a critical role in many diseases, including macular degeneration. At present, the pathological mechanisms remain unclear while appropriate models dissecting regulation of angiogenic processes are lacking. We propose an in vitro angiogenesis process and test it by examining the co-culture of human retinal pigmental epithelial cells (ARPE-19) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) inside a microfluidic device. From characterisation of the APRE-19 monoculture, the tight junction protein (ZO-1) was found on the cells cultured in the microfluidic device but changes in the medium conditions did not affect the integrity of monolayers found in the permeability tests. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion was elevated under low glucose and hypoxia condit

SUBMITTER: Chen LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5471206 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature