Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate the stemness characteristics of cultured human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) in various media.
Methods:
HCECs were cultured in media A, B, BE, and E. The morphology of cells was evaluated by inverted microscopy. Immunofluorescence staining of zo-1, nestin, GFAP and COL8A2 was performed. Cell proliferation rate was evaluated with cell counting kit -8 (CCK-8) assay.
Results:
A few cultured cells were stained with nestin and almost cells expressed COL8A2. The cell cultured in media A expressed GFAP more. Cell shape became fibroblast-like in media A and became mosaic pattern in media B and BE. Fibroblast-like cell shape in media A was recovered to be mosaic pattern in media BE. Cell proliferation rate was higher in media A and BE.
Conclusions:
Cultured HCEC showed the stem cell markers including nestin and GFAP. The expression of GFAP was different according to media.
Keywords: 481 cornea: endothelium •
721 stem cells