Human corneal endothelial cell precursors isolated by sphere-forming assay.

PURPOSE To isolate precursors of human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) in vitro. METHODS HCECs were subjected to a sphere-forming assay in which spheres floated in serum-free medium containing growth factors. To promote differentiation, the isolated sphere colonies were plated in dishes coated with poly-L-lysine (PLL)/laminin or fetal bovine endothelium extracellular matrix. Marker expression of neural and mesenchymal cells was examined in the sphere colonies and their progenies by immunocytochemistry and/or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Adherent differentiated cells from the sphere colonies were evaluated morphologically and functionally. RESULTS HCECs formed primary and secondary spherical colonies, as shown by sphere-forming assay in vitro. The colonies expressed nestin, beta3-tublin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and alpha-smooth muscle actin on immunocytochemistry. The progeny, proliferating on extracellular matrix derived from bovine corneal endothelium, but not on PLL/laminin-coated and noncoated dishes, expressed nestin and beta3-tublin. These markers were confirmed by RT-PCR. Adherent differentiated cells from the sphere colonies had an HCEC-like hexagonal shape and satisfactory transport activity that is essential in HCECs. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that the HCEC contains precursor cells with a propensity to differentiate into HCECs and that these cells can also produce neuronal and mesenchymal cell proteins.