[Adult human retinal pigment epithelial cells - a potential source of cells for regeneration retina].

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) arises from neuroectoderm and plays a key role in support of photoreceptor functions. Several degenerative eye diseases, such as macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa, are associated with impaired RPE function that may lead to photoreceptor loss and blindness. RPE cell culture derived from adult human eyes autopsy could be an important source for transplantation to cure such retinal degenerative diseases. RPE cells subsequent isolation and maintenance in culture are described. Besides the results of immunocytochemical analysis that characterizes dedifferentiated state of cultured adult human RPE cells are given. Our findings demonstrate that mature human RPE cells have the capacity to express neural markers in response to conditions that promote dedifferentiation.