Enhanced functional properties of corneal epithelial cells by coculture with embryonic stem cells via the integrin β1-FAK-PI3K/Akt pathway

2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1168-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Zhou ◽  
Fen Chen ◽  
Jianhui Xiao ◽  
Chaoyang Li ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem Cells ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Functional Properties ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Integrin Β1 ◽  
Corneal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Corneal Epithelial

scholarly journals Differentiation Induction of Human Stem Cells for Corneal Epithelial Regeneration

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 7834
Author(s):  
Kasem Theerakittayakorn ◽  
Hong Thi Nguyen ◽  
Jidapa Musika ◽  
Hataiwan Kunkanjanawan ◽  
Sumeth Imsoonthornruksa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Corneal Epithelium ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Human Stem Cells ◽  
Corneal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Corneal Epithelial ◽  
Epithelial Regeneration ◽  
Epithelium Regeneration

Deficiency of corneal epithelium causes vision impairment or blindness in severe cases. Transplantation of corneal epithelial cells is an effective treatment but the availability of the tissue source for those cells is inadequate. Stem cells can be induced to differentiate to corneal epithelial cells and used in the treatment. Multipotent stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells) and pluripotent stem cells (embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) are promising cells to address the problem. Various protocols have been developed to induce differentiation of the stem cells into corneal epithelial cells. The feasibility and efficacy of both human stem cells and animal stem cells have been investigated for corneal epithelium regeneration. However, some physiological aspects of animal stem cells are different from those of human stem cells, the protocols suited for animal stem cells might not be suitable for human stem cells. Therefore, in this review, only the investigations of corneal epithelial differentiation of human stem cells are taken into account. The available protocols for inducing the differentiation of human stem cells into corneal epithelial cells are gathered and compared. Also, the pathways involving in the differentiation are provided to elucidate the relevant mechanisms.

Porcine Corneal Epithelial Cells Consist of High- and Low-Integrin β1–Expressing Populations

2004 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 3951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken-ichi Endo ◽  
Takahiro Nakamura ◽  
Satoshi Kawasaki ◽  
Shigeru Kinoshita
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Integrin Β1 ◽  
Corneal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Corneal Epithelial

Cornea and Lens Problems in Aniridia

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward J. Holland ◽  
Mayank Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Corneal Epithelium ◽  
Basal Layer ◽  
Limbal Stem Cells ◽  
Corneal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Film Stability ◽  
Corneal Epithelial ◽  
Corneal Erosion ◽  
Peripheral Cornea

The corneal epithelium is a rapidly regenerating, stratified squamous epithelium. Homeostasis of corneal epithelial cells is an important prerequisite, not only for the integrity of the ocular surface, but also for the visual function. The maintenance of a healthy corneal epithelium under both normal and wound-healing conditions is achieved by a population of stem cells located in the basal layer of limbal epithelium. The Limbus represents the transition zone between the peripheral cornea and the bulbar conjunctiva. The stem cells from the limbus generate the transient amplifying cells that migrate, proliferate, and differentiate to replace lost or damaged corneal epithelial cells. In patients with aniridia, there is a primary dysfunction of these limbal stem cells (see Figure 6.1). The cornea is affected clinically in 90 percent of the patients with aniridia. In most cases, the cornea in aniridic patients appears normal and transparent during infancy and childhood. However, during the early teens, the cornea begins to show changes. The early changes are marked by the in-growth of opaque epithelium from the limbal region into the peripheral cornea, which represents conjunctival epithelial cells, goblet cells, and blood vessels in the corneal epithelium. These changes gradually progress toward the central cornea and may cause corneal epithelial erosions and epithelial abnormalities that eventually culminate in opacification of the corneal stroma, which leads to vision loss. With the gradual loss of limbal stem cells, the entire cornea becomes covered with conjunctival cells. Eventually, many patients develop total limbal stem cell deficiency. These abnormalities usually become more pronounced with aging. The corneal abnormalities seen in aniridia are collectively termed “aniridic keratopathy”. Significant corneal opacification may occasionally be the initial manifestation of aniridia. Abnormal tear film stability and meibomian gland dysfunction are also observed in patients with aniridia. This can lead to dry eyes, aggravating corneal erosion and ulceration observed in aniridic patients. Sometimes, aniridia is associated with “Peter’s anomaly,” in which central corneal opacity is present at birth along with defects in the corneal endothelium and Descemet’s membrane.

scholarly journals Irradiated Human Fibroblasts as a Substitute Feeder Layer to Irradiated Mouse 3T3 for the Culture of Human Corneal Epithelial Cells: Impact on the Stability of the Transcription Factors Sp1 and NFI

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (24) ◽  
pp. 6296
Author(s):  
Gaëtan Le-Bel ◽  
Sergio Cortez Ghio ◽  
Louis-Philippe Guérin ◽  
Francis Bisson ◽  
Lucie Germain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Stem Cell Differentiation ◽  
Feeder Layer ◽  
Corneal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Corneal Epithelial ◽  
Human Corneal Epithelial Cells

Because of the worldwide shortage of graftable corneas, alternatives to restore visual impairments, such as the production of a functional human cornea by tissue engineering, have emerged. Self-renewal of the corneal epithelium through the maintenance of a sub-population of corneal stem cells is required to maintain the functionality of such a reconstructed cornea. We previously reported an association between stem cell differentiation and the level to which they express the transcription factors Sp1 and NFI. In this study, we investigated the impact of replacing irradiated 3T3 (i3T3) murine fibroblast feeder cells by irradiated human corneal fibroblasts (iHFL) on the expression of Sp1 and NFI and evaluated their contribution to the proliferative properties of human corneal epithelial cells (hCECs) in both monolayer cultures and human tissue engineered corneas (hTECs). hCECs co-cultured with iHFL could be maintained for up to two more passages than when they were grown with i3T3. Western Blot and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) revealed no significant difference in the feeder-layer dependent increase in Sp1 at both the protein and DNA binding level, respectively, between HCECs grown with either i3T3 or iHFL. On the other hand, a significant increase in the expression and DNA binding of NFI was observed at each subsequent passage when hCECs were co-cultured along with i3T3. These changes were found to result from an increased expression of the NFIA and NFIB isoforms in hCECs grown with i3T3. Exposure of hCECs to cycloheximide revealed an increased stability of NFIB that likely resulted from post-translational glycosylation of this protein when these cells were co-cultured with i3T3. In addition, iHFL were as efficient as i3T3 at preserving corneal, slow-cycling, epithelial stem cells in the basal epithelium of the reconstructed hTECs. Furthermore, we observed an increased expression of genes whose encoded products promote hCECs differentiation along several passages in hCECs co-cultured with either type of feeder layer. Therefore, the iHFL feeder layer appears to be the most effective at maintaining the proliferative properties of hCECs in culture most likely by preserving high levels of Sp1 and low levels of NFIB, which is known for its gene repressor and cell differentiation properties.

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