Murine corneal stroma-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Xiu-Jun Song , Jian-Min Lu

Department of Ophthalmology, Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China

Purpose: To investigate that whether mesenchymal stem cells reside in the murine corneal stroma.

Methods: Corneas of BALB/c mice were enzyme digested after the epithelium and endothelium were removed. Single cells were harvested and further identified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The immunophenotype of passage 2 keratocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. Attempts were made these keratocytes differentiate into adipocytes and osteocytes using conditioned medium. After induction, cells were evaluated by RT-PCR and oil red O or alizarin red staining.

Result: Isolated single cells were of stromal, not epithelial or endothelial origin. Passage 2 keratocytes exhibited a spindle-shaped morphology and expressed CD90, but were negative for CD34 and CD45. In addition, these cells showed the potentiality of differentiation into adipocytes and osteocytes, which was confirmed by RT-PCR and staining.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates for the first time the presence of mesenchymal stem cells in the murine corneal stroma.

Keywords: mesenchymal stem cell, corneal stroma