New blood forming vessels are produced by differentiation of mesodermal precursor cells to angioblasts that become endothelial cells (ECs) which in turn give rise to primitive capillary network. Human cord blood (HCB) contains large subsets of mononuclear cells (MNCs) that can be differentiated into endothelial-like cells in vitro. Human mononuclear progenitor cells were purified from fresh umb...

RESULTS. PDGF A, PDGF B, PDGF receptor alpha, and PDGF receptor beta mRNAs were detected in corneal epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells in culture. The proteins were expressed in each major cell type in human corneal sections, with PDGF A and PDGF B detected at high levels in the epithelial basement membrane. PDGF, BMP2, and BMP4 had attractive chemotactic effects on corneal fi...

Human corneal endothelial cells (HCEnCs) form a monolayer of hexagonal cells whose main function is to maintain corneal clarity by regulating corneal hydration. HCEnCs are derived from neural crest and are arrested in the post-mitotic state. Thus cell loss due to aging or corneal endothelial disorders leads to corneal edema and blindness-the leading indication for corneal transplantation. Here ...

Considerable interest has been generated for the development of suitable corneal endothelial graft alternatives through cell-tissue engineering, which can potentially alleviate the shortage of corneal transplant material. The advent of less invasive suture-less key-hole surgery options such as Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK) and Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty ...

A novel technique for studying the growth properties of human embryonic corneal endothelial and stromal cells in organ culture was devised. Human embryonic eye globes were microdissected so that a passage was opened between the outer environment and the anterior chamber, which rendered free access of tissue culture medium to the endothelial cell monolayer. The dissected eye globes were maintain...

PURPOSE Dextran T500, routinely used as a deswelling supplement in organ culture (OC), has been suspected of being toxic to corneal endothelial cells (ECs). This study was conducted to evaluate the innovative use of poloxamers compared with dextran for deswelling OC corneas. METHODS Five poloxamers (P124, P188, P237, P338, and P407) were dissolved respectively in a standard OC medium to reach...

Healthy corneal endothelium is essential for maintaining corneal clarity, as the damage of corneal endothelial cells and loss of cell count causes severe visual impairment. Corneal transplantation is currently the only therapy for severe corneal disorders. The greatly limited proliferative ability of human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs), even in vitro, has challenged researchers to establish...

The barrier and pump functions of the corneal endothelium are essential for the maintenance of corneal transparency. Although corneal transplantation is the only current therapy for treating corneal endothelial dysfunction, the potential of tissue-engineering techniques to provide highly efficient and less invasive therapy in comparison to corneal transplantation has been highly anticipated. Ho...

PURPOSE To help further define the possible role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of corneal neovascularization, the expression of VEGF and of its receptors Flt-1 and Flk-1 was investigated in various inflammatory corneal diseases. METHODS Polyclonal antibodies to VEGF and its receptors were used for immunohistochemical staining of frozen sections of 38 human c...