Abstract
Purpose :
In vitro expansion of human keratocytes with specific property is useful and promising for cell therapy. Here, we investigate a novel procedure to propagate human keratocytes through biomimetic environments of PDMS substrate and cocktail medium.
Methods :
Femtosecond laser intrastromal lenticules (FLI-lenticules) from myopic patients were digested by collagenase I. Cornea stromal cells (CSCs) were cultured in cocktail medium, which was DMEM/F12 containing RITS (ROCK inhibitor Y27632, insulin, transferrin, selenous acid), L-ascorbate 2-phosphate, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), 0.5% FBS and antibiotics (also called cocktail medium ). CSCs at passage 3 (P3) were subcultured onto PDMS substrate in 6-well plate for forming spheroid adherent growth. The characteristic expressions of CSCs were analyzed.
Results :
Primary CSCs cultured on FNC coated PDMS substrate in DMEM/F12 and 10% FBS displayed positive expressions of keratocan by immunofluorescence staining when on 7d. Actin staining showed dendritic and spindle morphology(Fig. 1A,1B). However, CSCs cultured on tissue-culture plastic (TCP) in DMEM/F12 and 10% FBS showed long spindle shape when stained with lumican and vimentin (Fig. 1C,1D). CSCs enable to form spheroid adherent growth when cultured on PDMS substrate in cocktail medium and shake culture for 2 weeks. The spheroid cells in cocktail medium display higher gene expression of lumincan and ALDH3A1 while lower of vimentin and α-SMA by q-PCR assay (Fig. 2).
Conclusions :
Keratocyte morphology is promoted when cultured on PDMS substrate. And CSC spheroids cultured on PDMS substrate in cocktail medium have tendency to form more keratocyte phenotypes. The study is beneficial for expansion in vitro of human keratocytes with specific property and future CSC tissue engineering research and application.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.