Meller D., Steuhl K.-P.

Universitäts-Augenklinik Essen

Amniotic membrane (AM) reconstructed human conjunctival surfaces recover a goblet cell density higher than normal. Cultured rabbit conjunctival epithelial cells (RCE) on AM preferentially exhibit non-goblet epithelial differentiation. We thus wonder if progenitor cells for goblet cell differentiation had been preserved during ex vivo expansion on AM. After subcutaneous implantation into Balb/c athymic mice the resultant epithelial phenotype was conjunctival with many PAS-positive, MUC5AC-positive, and AM3-positive goblet cells, AMEM2-positive suprabasal and superficial cells, and K14-positive basal cells, but was not corneal (negative to K3 and K12 staining). Twenty-four hour BrdU labeling showed a labeling index of 42.5%. A higher labeling index of 69% was noted after continuous BrdU labeling for 7 days. A large number of label-retaining basal cells with a labeling index of 84% were noted following 14 days of chase. Conjunctival epithelial progenitor cells for goblet and non-goblet cell differentiation are preserved by AM in vitro as evidenced by being able to differentiate into goblet cells in a permissive stromal environment, and being slow-cycling, and label-retaining. This information is useful for future ex vivo expansion of conjunctival epithelial stem cells for conjunctival surface reconstruction.

Copyright © Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft, 2001. All rights reserved.

Last updated: 

Webdesign: SPALLEK.COM