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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Experimental Models for Study of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Physiology and Pathophysiology
Published on: November 6, 2010
A model to study complement involvement in experimental retinal degeneration
Camilla Mohlin1, Kerstin Sandholm1, Anders Kvanta2
1a Linnaeus University Faculty of Health and Life Science , Linnaeus Center of Biomaterials Chemistry, Linnaeus University , Kalmar , Sweden.
Background:
The complement system (CS) plays a role in the pathogenesis of a number of ocular diseases, including diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma, uveitis, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Given that many of the complex eye-related degenerative diseases have limited treatment opportunities, we aimed to mimic the in vivo retinal degenerative process by developing a relevant co-culture system.
Method And Materials:
The adult porcine retina was co-cultured with the spontaneously arising human retinal pigment epithelial cells-19 (ARPE-19).
Results:
Inflammatory activity was found after culture and included migrating microglial cells, gliosis, cell death, and CS activation (demonstrated by a minor increase in the secreted anaphylotoxin C3a in co-culture). CS components, including C1q, C3, C4, soluble C5b-9, and the C5a receptor, were expressed in the retina and/or ARPE cells after culture. C1q, C3, and CS regulators such as C4 binding protein (C4BP), factor H (CFH), and factor I (CFI) were secreted after culture.
Discussion:
Thus, our research indicates that this co-culturing system may be useful for investigations of the CS and its involvement in experimental neurodegenerative diseases.
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