Role of growth factors and internal limiting membrane constituents in müller cell migration.

This study investigated the effects of growth factors and internal limiting membrane components on Muller cell migration. We studied the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), somatomedin (IGF-1), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), and stromal cell-derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1α) as well as collagen IV, laminin, and fibronectin on the proliferative and migratory activities of rat Muller cells in vitro. A water soluble tetrazolium-1 assay was used to quantify the viability of Muller cells in respective cultures, and analysis was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reader. All the factors examined had significant proliferative effects on cultured Muller cells (p < .05). A two-well Ibidi silicone culture insert was used to assess Muller cell migration. Muller cells cultured in EGF, FGF, IGF-1, collagen IV, and laminin but not in SDF, PDGF, or fibronectin effectively increased the cell migratory activity (p < .001). In addition, combined EGF and collagen IV, combined FGF and collagen IV, and combined IGF-1 and laminin exhibited more significant (p < .001) effects on Muller cell migration compared with culture a single factor. In summary, this study revealed the combinatorial effects of various growth factors and individual internal limiting membrane constituents. This may assist Muller cell migration together with the macular hole healing process.