Abstract
Purpose: :
We have previously shown that the expression of junctional proteins in corneal epithelial cells and fibroblasts is regulated, each other by both cell types in a coculture system. We have now examined the effects of neural cells on stratification of corneal epithelial cells and corneal homeostasis.
Methods: :
Neural cells (PC12) and simian virus 40-transformed human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells were cultured on opposite sides of a collagen vitrigel membrane. And, HCE cells were cultured alone using the conditioning medium with released factors from neural cells (PC12) The observation for stratification of HCE cells were examined by immunofluorescence analysis with antibodies of tight junctional proteins. And the expression of others junctional proteins in HCE cells was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunoblot analyses.
Results: :
The presence of neural cells (PC12) resulted in promotion of stratification in HCE cells. Furthermore, this effect of neural cells was mimicked by medium with released factors from neural cells (PC12).
Conclusions: :
These results suggest that some factor(s) released from neural cells may play an important role in the regulation of intercellular communication between corneal epithelial cells as well as in the maintenance of corneal structure and function.
Keywords: cell-cell communication • cornea: basic science • cornea: epithelium