Antisense basic fibroblast growth factor oligonucleotide reduced adhesion of retinal pigment epithelial cells to extracellular matrix molecules and their proliferation.

We investigated the effect of extracellular matrix molecules on the adhesion of retinal pigment epithelial cells and their subsequent proliferation. Fibronectin, collagen type I and vitronectin enhanced their adhesion and proliferation. In addition, the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on their adhesion and proliferation was studied. bFGF enhanced their adhesion and proliferation, whereas antisense bFGF reduced their adhesion to and their proliferation on extracellular matrix molecules.