The antigenic composition of the human corneal endothelium, a cellular layer essential for maintaining corneal function, has not been well characterized. A novel corneal endothelial antigen was identified by generating a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against normal human corneal endothelial cells. This MAb, designated 2B4.14.1, reacted strongly by immunoperoxidase staining with the endothelium of c...

PURPOSE The homeodomain transcription factor, PITX2, is at the apex of a genetic pathway required for corneal development, but the critical effector genes regulated by the PITX2 remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to discover and validate PITX2-dependent mechanisms required for specifying cell lineages and establishing angiogenic privilege within the developing cornea. METHODS Micro...

Cell-based therapies have been increasingly explored as a potential alternative treatment method of corneal endothelial dysfunction. Up to date, researchers have mainly dedicated enormous efforts to establishing fundamental techniques for culture and characterization of human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) and human corneal endothelial progenitor cells (HCEPCs). However, in terms of cell del...

PURPOSE The corneal endothelium is a monolayer of cells in the posterior cornea that is responsible for maintaining a clear cornea. Corneal endothelial cells may be induced to divide, but it has been held that they do not divide in the normal cornea of an adult human. Some studies have suggested that a stem cell population for the corneal endothelium exists. This population could give rise to m...

The corneal endothelium maintains corneal transparency; consequently, its dysfunction causes severe vision loss. Tissue engineering-based therapy, as an alternative to conventional donor corneal transplantation, is anticipated to provide a less invasive and more effective therapeutic modality. We conducted a preclinical study for cell-based therapy in a primate model and demonstrated regenerati...

We examined immunohistochemically the localization of three transport enzymes (carbonic anhydrase, Ca-II; sodium-potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase, NaK-ATPase; bicarbonate-chloride exchanger, band III) in the anterior segment of the human eye. In accord with earlier studies, NaK-ATPase was primarily found in the corneal endothelium, but also in the corneal basal epithelial cell membr...

PURPOSE To determine whether endothelial cell loss of human corneas stored in organ culture before transplantation is due to apoptosis. METHODS The corneal endothelium of human corneas, stored in organ culture at 34 degrees C for varying periods of time, were analyzed for the presence of apoptotic cells using the TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique. Corneal endothelial cell ...

PURPOSE We evaluated the in vivo functionality of a corneal endothelium tissue-engineered using corneal endothelial cells from human patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). METHODS A total of 15 healthy cats underwent full-thickness corneal transplantation. All transplants were of xenogeneic human origin and all grafts but two were tissue-engineered. In seven animals the gra...

PURPOSE To understand the role of TGF-beta related signals in the repair of a corneal endothelium defect and also to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Smad7 gene transfer on injury induced fibrosis of the corneal endothelium in rats. METHODS (1) Japanese albino rabbits (n=108) were used. Blocks of central cornea (4 x 4 mm) were prepared. After partially scraping the endothelium to produce a ...

The corneal endothelium is a monolayer that mediates the flux of solutes and water across the posterior corneal surface. Thereby, it plays an essential role to maintain the transparency of the cornea. Unlike the epithelium, the human endothelium is an amitotic cell layer with a critical cell density and the risk of corneal decompensation. The number of endothelial cells subsequently decreases w...