Purpose: Diabetic retinopathy is associated with inflammation. The authors investigated the influence of Müller cells on leukocyte adhesion to retinal endothelial cells.
Methods: ICAM-1 levels were assessed by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Leukocyte adhesion was quantified using a fluorescence assay.
Results: High glucose and oxidative/nitrosative stress conditions increased ICAM-1 levels in endothelial cells and leukocyte adhesion. Under the influence of Müller cells (co-cultures/conditioned medium), the effects were comparable to those found when endothelial cells were exposed, alone, to similar conditions.
Conclusions: These results show that Müller cells do not influence leukocyte adhesion under the in vitro conditions used in this study.