In vitro transdifferentiation of corneal epithelial-like cells from human skin-derived precursor cells

Abstract

The damage of human corneal cells encounter with the problem of availability of corneal cells for replacement. Lim itation of the source of corneal cells has been realized. An attem pt of development of corneal epithelial-like cells from the human skin-derived precursor (hSKPs) has been made in this study. Combination of three essential growth factors: epiderm al growth factor (EGF), keratinocy te growth factor (KGF) and hepatocy te growth factor (HGF) could dem onstrate successfully induction of hSKPs to differentiation into corneal cells. The induced cells expressed the appearance of markers of corneal epithelial cells as shown by the presence of keratin 3 (K3) by antibody label and Western blot assay. The K3 gene expression of induced hSKPs cells as shown by reverse transcription-poly merase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology was also dem onstrated. The presence of these markers at both gene and protein levels could lead to our conclusion that the directional transdifferentiation of hSKPs cells into corneal epithelial cells was successfully done under this cell induction protocol. The finding shows a newly available stem cell source can be obtained from easily av ailable skin. Cells from autologous human skin might beused for corneal disorder treatment in future clinical application. Copyright International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.