Ultraviolet transmittance of human limbal epithelial cells cultured on human amniotic membranes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate ultraviolet (UV) A and B transmittance by human limbal epithelial cells cultured on human amniotic membranes.


METHODS
Human limbal epithelial cells were taken from the limbus of donor corneas and were cultured on human amniotic membranes with inactivated 3T3 fibroblasts for 2 to 4 weeks. Then, the cultured cells were examined histologically. Next, cells from different culture periods were irradiated with UV-A (365 nm) or UV-B (302 nm) at energy levels ranging from 50 to 800 microW/cm2, and UV transmittance was measured with a UV light meter.


RESULTS
Histological examination revealed a monolayer of corneal epithelial cells on the amniotic membrane after 2 weeks of culture, and a layer of 3-4 cells was formed after 4 weeks. Transmittance of UV-A and UV-B was highest by the amniotic membrane alone, followed in decreasing order by limbal epithelial cells cultured on amniotic membranes for 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that UV absorbance increases in proportion to the number of limbal epithelial cell layers in cultures on amniotic membranes. Limbal epithelial cells may need to be cultured until 3-4 layers are formed in order to prevent ocular damage by UV light after transplantation.
Mimura
Tatsuya
T
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. mimurat-tky@umin.ac.jp
Yokoo
Seiichi
S
Kaji
Yuichi
Y
Usui
Tomohiko
T
Yamagam
Satoru
S
Ono
Kyoko
K
Araie
Makoto
M
Amano
Shiro
S
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D007633:Keratins