TY - DATA T1 - A model to study complement involvement in experimental retinal degeneration PY - 2018/02/13 AU - Camilla Mohlin AU - Kerstin Sandholm AU - Anders Kvanta AU - Kristina N. Ekdahl AU - Kjell Johansson UR - https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/A_model_to_study_complement_involvement_in_experimental_retinal_degeneration/5882719 DO - 10.6084/m9.figshare.5882719.v1 L4 - https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/10467538 KW - AMD KW - complement system KW - ocular diseases KW - retina KW - RPE N2 - 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. ER -