Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To study the possibility of transdiiferentiation of bone marrow stromal cells into corneal keratocytes and endothelial cells. Methods: In vitro co–culture system was performed with bone marrow stromal cells and corneal keratocytes and endothelial cells. The differentiated markers of keratocytes and endothelial cells were checked for bone marrow stromal cells, including RT–PCR and immunostaining of keratocan and type VIII collagens. We injected GFP–lbelled bone marrow stromal cells into periocular tissue, then observed the consequence of GFP–labelled cells for in vivo analysis. Results: The transformation of bone marrow stromal cells into corneal cells was found, but the differentiated markers was not compatible with morphological findings with variable results. The GFP–labelled cells can migration into corneal epithelial and stromal layers. Conclusions: The transdifferentiation of bone marrow stromal cells is possible under some situations, but the de–differentiation may be needed first to induce transdifferentiation.
Keywords: cornea: basic science • cornea: stroma and keratocytes