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Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Retinal Explant of the Adult Mouse Retina as an Ex Vivo Model for Studying Retinal Neurovascular Diseases
Published on: December 9, 2022
Role of ephrin B2 in human retinal endothelial cell proliferation and migration
Jena J Steinle1, Cynthia J Meininger, Usha Chowdhury
1Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, 702 SW HK Dodgen Loop, Medical Research Building, Room 202A, Temple, TX 76504, USA. jsteinle@siumed.edu
Abstract:
This study was designed to determine the presence of Eph B4 or ephrin B2 in human retinal endothelial cells (REC) and their signal transduction. Human retinal endothelial cells were stimulated with an Eph B4/Fc chimera and probed for phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), Src, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Proliferation and migration were investigated after Eph B4/Fc stimulation in the presence of various pathway inhibitors. Human retinal endothelial cells express ephrin B2, with little expression of Eph B4. Treatment with EphB4/Fc chimera resulted in activation of PI3K, Src, and MAPK pathways. Eph B4-stimulated endothelial cell proliferation was mediated via PI3K, nitric oxide synthase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Blockade of Src-PI3K pathways produced significant attenuation of Eph B4/Fc-stimulated migration. These results demonstrate for the first time that ephrin B2 is present in human retinal endothelial cells. Additionally, it appears that vascular growth may be modulated in the retina through activation of the PI3K pathway and its downstream components.
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