Open AccessA Novel Isolation Technique of Progenitor Cells in Human Corneal Epithelium Using Non‐Tissue Culture Dishes
Author(s) -
Yokoo Seiichi,
Yamagami Satoru,
Shimada Takashi,
Usui Tomohiko,
Sato Takaaki,
Amano Shiro,
Araie Makoto,
Hamuro Junji
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1634/stemcells.2007-0866
Subject(s) - progenitor cell , laminin , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , corneal epithelium , epithelium , stem cell , progenitor , cell culture , immunology , extracellular matrix , genetics
The existence of adult stem cells or progenitor cells in the human corneal epithelium (i.e., self‐renewing squamous cells) has long been suggested, but these cells have not yet been isolated. Here we describe a novel isolation technique using non‐tissue culture dishes to enrich progenitor cells, which are able to reconstitute a three‐dimensional human corneal epithelial equivalent from single cells in serum‐, feeder‐, and bovine pituitary extract‐free medium. These cells showed original tissue‐committed differentiation, a high proliferative capacity, and limited self‐renewal. Laminin‐5 was measured by mass spectrometric analysis. Pretreatment of cells with anti‐laminin‐5 antibody demonstrated that laminin‐5 was important in allowing corneal epithelial progenitor cells to adhere to non‐tissue culture dishes. Hydrophilic tubes (used for cell collection throughout this study) are essential for efficient isolation of adherent corneal epithelial progenitor cells expressing laminin‐5. These findings indicate that our new technique using non‐tissue culture dishes allows the isolation of progenitor cells from human corneal limbal epithelium and that laminin‐5 has a critical role in the adhesion of these cells. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.