Amniotic Membrane is the Niche for Limbal Stem Cells Expansion

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To evaluate that amniotic membrane may play a role of serving as "niches" for limbal stem cells ex vivo expansion. Methods: Continuously in vitro labeling of BrdU for one week on the explanted culture of human limbus on the amniotic membrane that was studied. The specimen was implanted into the subcutaneous of nude mice for another one week. Anti-BrdU and p63 were stained. Results: When human limbal epithelial cells on the amniotic membrane grows in the subcutaneous space for one week, human limbal epithelium became stratification. The label retention cells (LRC) were identified by anti-BrdU and located on the basal layer of the limbal epithelium on the amniotic membrane. These positive cells on the basal layer also has positive staining by p63. Conclusions: These data demonstrated that the amniotic membrane may serve as a niche for ex vivo expansion of human limbal stem cells. This result allows us to further study the adult stem cell expansion in ex vivo culture system.

Keywords: cornea: epithelium • cornea: basic science