Increased Rate of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Migration and Pro-Angiogenic Potential Ensuing From Reduced Cystatin C Expression

Carlsson, Emil, Supharattanasitthi, Wasu, Jackson, Malcolm ORCID: 0000-0003-3683-8297 and Paraoan, Luminita ORCID: 0000-0001-7568-7116 (2020) Increased Rate of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Migration and Pro-Angiogenic Potential Ensuing From Reduced Cystatin C Expression. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, 61 (2). 9-.

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Abstract

<h4>Purpose</h4>Variant B precursor cysteine protease inhibitor cystatin C, a known recessive risk factor for developing exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), presents altered intracellular trafficking and reduced secretion from retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Because cystatin C inhibits multiple extracellular matrix (ECM)-degrading cathepsins, this study evaluated the role of this mutation in inducing ECM-related functional changes in RPE cellular behavior.<h4>Methods</h4>Induced pluripotent stem cells gene-edited bi-allelically by CRISPR/Cas9 to express the AMD-linked cystatin C variant were differentiated to RPE cells and assayed for their ability to degrade fluorescently labeled ECM proteins. Cellular migration and adhesion on multiple ECM proteins, differences in transepithelial resistance and polarized protein secretion were tested. Vessel formation induced by gene edited cells-conditioned media was quantified using primary human dermal microvascular epithelial cells.<h4>Results</h4>Variant B cystatin C-expressing induced pluripotent stem cells-derived RPE cells displayed a significantly higher rate of laminin and fibronectin degradation 3 days after seeding on fluorescently labeled ECM (P < 0.05). Migration on matrigel, collagen IV and fibronectin was significantly faster for edited cells compared with wild-type (WT) cells. Both edited and WT cells displayed polarized secretion of cystatin C, but transepithelial resistance was lower in gene-edited cells after 6 weeks culture, with significantly lower expression of tight junction protein claudin-3. Media conditioned by gene-edited cells stimulated formation of significantly longer microvascular tubes (P < 0.05) compared with WT-conditioned media.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Reduced levels of cystatin C lead to changes in the RPE ability to degrade, adhere, and migrate supporting increased invasiveness and angiogenesis relevant for AMD pathology.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Cell migration, retinal pigment epithelium, cystatin C, age-related macular degeneration
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	05 Feb 2020 08:18
Last Modified:	15 Mar 2024 05:04
DOI:	10.1167/iovs.61.2.9
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3073466