Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
Experimental Models for Study of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Physiology and Pathophysiology
Published on: November 6, 2010
Human complement factor H and factor H-like protein 1 are expressed in human retinal pigment epithelial cells
Andreas W A Weinberger1, Cordula Eddahabi, Dörthe Carstesen
1Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Background:
A common haplotype in the gene for the regulator of the alternative pathway of complement activation factor H has been linked to individual predisposition to age- related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods:
In this study, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, i.e. immortalized ARPE-19 as well as primary human RPE cells, were investigated for expression of factor H and FHL-1 by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization analysis.
Results:
Factor H and the alternative spliced product FHL-1 are expressed in RPE cells, i.e. in immortalized ARPE-19 and primary human RPE cells. Factor H and FHL-1 expression was induced in a dose-dependent manner in ARPE-19 cells upon treatment with the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6). In situ hybridization experiments confirmed an elevated expression rate of the factor H gene in IL-6-treated ARPE-19 cells. AMD is characterized by complement-associated inflammatory processes in the retina. Thus, local synthesis of complement regulators affects the protection of retinal cells and may be involved in the pathogenesis at the RPE-choroid interface.
