Protective Role of Decellularized Human Amniotic Membrane from Oxidative Stress-Induced Damage on Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells.

Oxidative stress is an important cause for several retinal aging diseases. Cell therapy using a decellularized human amniotic membrane (dHAM) as a tissue scaffold for retinal pigment epithelial cells has a potential therapeutic role under such pathological conditions. This is attributed by the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, low-immunogenicity aspects of dHAM, apart from harboring a drug reservoir potential. The underlying mechanisms for maintaining the physiological properties of transplanted cells and their survival in a diseased milieu using dHAM has remained unexplored/unanswered. Hence, we investigated the potential role of dHAM in preserving the cellular functions of retinal pigment epithelium in an oxidative stress environment. Adult human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells were cultured on dHAM or tissue culture dishes under hyperoxia. Gene expression, immunofluorescence staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to assess the levels of reactive oxygen species, proliferation, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, phagocytosis, and secretion of vascular endothelial factors. These results indicate reduced epithelial-mesenchymal transition, generation of reactive oxygen species (