advertisement
See also comment(s) by Robert Nickells •
PURPOSE: The transformed RGC-5 retinal ganglion cell line is used widely in glaucoma research. Increased resistance to glutamate was noted in published literature and led to the recharacterization of the RGC-5 cell line. METHODS: Characterization of the RGC-5 cell line was performed by sequencing of a region of the nuclear Thy1 gene and mitochondrial DNA sequencing of a region of the d-loop and tRNA(Phe) gene. Marker expression was examined in undifferentiated cells, and cells differentiated with 50 microg/mL succinyl concanavalin A (S Con A) for 3 days. Glutamate sensitivity was examined in undifferentiated and S Con A differentiated cells by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay after 24-hours of glutamate treatment. RESULTS: RGC-5 cells were found to be of mouse (Mus musculus), not rat (Rattus norvegicus), origin by mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses. RGC-5 DNA sequenced in a second laboratory was subsequently found to be of M. musculus origin. Cells stained positively for the neuronal markers beta-tubulin and PGP9.5 and for the microtubule-associated protein tau, but not for known markers of ganglion cells such as neurofilaments or Thy1.2, suggesting that they likely represented a lineage of mouse neuronal precursor cells. Differentiation with S Con A did not increase RGC-5 sensitivity to glutamate excitotoxicity or increase the expression of retinal or ganglion cell marker proteins. CONCLUSIONS: Investigators using cells designated as RGC-5 should confirm the species to be of rat origin and retinal-specific marker expression before considering their use as retinal ganglion-like cells.
Dr. N.J. Van Bergen, Department of Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
3.6 Cellular biology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)