Purpose: The authors studied the growth requirements and growth regulation of cultured human adult uveal melanocytes (UM).
Methods: The effect of various mitogens and growth factors on the growth of UM were tested separately or combined on cultured UM in multiwell plates.
Results: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulate the growth of UM. Without these agents, the UM did not grow or survive. A cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) stimulator, such as isobutylmethylxanthine or cholera toxin, stimulated growth in the presence of bFGF. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is also required for growth. In its absence, UM did not grow, even in the presence of bFGF and cAMP stimulators. Other substances, such as epidermal growth factor, acidic FGF, nerve growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor had no stimulating effects on the growth of UM.
Conclusions: Three classes of agents are required for the growth of UM in vitro: bFGF or TPA, a cAMP stimulator, and FBS. Adult human UM cultured in medium containing all these agents grew well and could be passaged for many generations.