Abstract
Purpose :
Fibroblast growth factor-10 (FGF10) is a member of the fibroblast growth factor family-7 (FGF7), which controls epithelial morphogenesis and proliferation. This suggests that FGF10 signaling is necessary for the development of functional lacrimal glands. Several recent studies have implicated the in vitro biological functions of FGFs for the regeneration of different organs. However, little is known about the proliferative effects of FGF10 on human corneal and lacrimal glands. We aimed to study the proliferative effects of fibroblast growth factor-10 (FGF10) on human primary corneal and lacrimal gland epithelial cells.
Methods :
Epithelial cells were derived from donor transplant tissue by incubating the corneoscleral rims in dispase for 1 hour and then gently scraping the cells from the epithelia. Cultures were expanded in growth-factor-containing medium for two passages and plated on 96-well plates. When the cells reached 50-70% confluency, the medium was replaced with a growth-factor-free base medium with FGF10 (30 ng/mL), with two different added supplements, or with combinations of FGF10 and each individual supplement. Cell viability/proliferation was examined by ATP quantification 72 hours after application. Similarly, human lacrimal gland cells cultured in defined medium were treated with FGF10 (20ng/ml), and cell proliferation was estimated 48-72 hours later.
Results :
We found that FGF10, as well as the supplements, increased corneal cell proliferation by 23±20%, 32±16%, and 43 ±13%, respectively (±SD), compared to defined medium alone (N=8). However, combinations of FGF10 and each of the two supplements increased proliferation by 64±20% and 66±27%, respectively (N = 8). Similarly, FGF10 resulted in increased lacrimal gland cell proliferation (71±18%) cultured in defined medium with the second supplement compared to the defined medium with the second supplement on its own.
Conclusions :
FGF10 is an effective proliferative factor for human corneal and lacrimal epithelial cells. Moreover, the synergistic effects of FGF10 in combination with specific growth supplements suggest the role of FGF10 in cell survival and as a potential use for expansion of human corneal and lacrimal gland epithelial cells.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.