Nitrite Modification of Extracellular Matrix Alters CD46 Expression and VEGF Release in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium.

Purpose: Loss of CD46 has recently been implicated in choroidal neovascularization in mice. Herein we investigated the effect of nitrite modification of the extracellular matrix (ECM) as an in vitro model of "aging" and its effect on CD46 expression and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release in cocultured human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

Methods: ARPE-19 cells were plated onto RPE-derived ECM conditions (untreated; nitrite modified; nitrite modified followed by washing with Triton X-100; or nitrite modified followed by washing with Triton X-100 and coated with extracellular matrix ligands).