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Skin fibroblasts and epithelial cells prove unsuitable for corneal reconstruction
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009;50(6):2645-2652.
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The origin of stromal fibroblasts and epithelial cells significantly influenced the histologic features and functional properties of reconstructed corneas, a study showed.
Study findings on corneal reconstruction in vitro offered new insights into interactions between stromal and epithelial cells. Specifically, results showed that neither fibroblasts nor epithelial cells from skin would be suitable for corneal reconstruction.
“These human models are promising tools for gaining a thorough understanding of epithelial-stromal interactions and regulation of epithelial homeostasis,” the study authors said.
Investigators assembled tissue constructs comprising four combinations of human cells: corneal fibroblasts/corneal epithelial cells, corneal fibroblasts/skin epithelial cells, skin fibroblasts/corneal epithelial cells and skin fibroblasts/skin epithelial cells. Reconstructed tissues were photographed and analyzed after 2 weeks at the air-liquid interface.
Reconstructed corneas were uniformly transparent, and reconstructed skin was white or opaque. In light absorption testing, the reconstructed corneas showed minimal light-scatter; the reconstructed skin showed significant light-scatter.
“In addition, these tissue-engineered corneas could eventually provide effective treatments for many corneal disorders,” the authors said.
Important aspects of cellular differentiation currently limit the use of readily available skin tissue for ex vivo expansion to augment relatively limited sources of limbal tissue. The tissue-engineered constructs described in the study provide some new insights into stromal-epithelial cellular communication and regulation pathways. Eventually, a better understanding of cellular programming may help open up new tissue sources that could be expanded for autologous transplantation to treat corneal limbal stem cell deficiency.
– Marianne O. Price, PhD
Executive
Director, Cornea Research Foundation of America, Indianapolis