Differentiated ARPE-19 Cells Show Variation in Gene Expression Involved in Lipid Utilization When Transformed With mFAT-1

Objectives: Previous investigations have shown that ARPE-19 cells significantly alter gene expression after differentiation which is particularly important when using ARPE-19 cells as an accurate in vitro model of human pigmented retinal epithelium. Furthermore, ARPE-19 cells are unable to endogenously produce n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) at levels that are available in the human body. This study investigates the effects differentiation and n-3 PUFA availability have on genes important in lipid and fat-soluble vitamin utilization in ARPE-19 cells.