Immortalized Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells-SV40T

Immortalized human retinal microvascular endothelial cells-SV40T (HRMEC/SV40T) are generated by introducing the SV40 large T antigen into primary human retinal microvascular endothelial cells. This confers indefinite proliferative capacity while preserving core endothelial features, including CD31/PECAM-1, VE-cadherin, VEGFR2, and CD34, as well as blood-retinal barrier (BRB)-associated junctional proteins such as claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1. Functionally, they respond to VEGF and inflammatory stimuli and support proliferation, migration, tube formation, and barrier assays.

Compared with primary HRMECs, HRMEC/SV40T offer a continuous, scalable, and cost-effective source with high batch-to-batch consistency and reduced donor variability. This enables reproducible high-throughput screening, gene perturbation (siRNA/CRISPR), and long-term studies. They are widely used to model retinal angiogenesis and BRB dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, retinal vein occlusion, and macular edema, and to evaluate anti-VEGF agents, corticosteroids, and metabolic or inflammatory modulators.

Limitations: SV40 large T antigen inactivates p53 and Rb and may alter stress/apoptosis responses, barrier tightness, and karyotype. Results should therefore be validated against low-passage primary HRMECs when physiological fidelity is critical. Overall, HRMEC/SV40T provide a practical, human-relevant, and reproducible platform for retinal vascular biology and translational drug discovery.