title: The transdifferentiation potential of limbal fibroblast-like cells.
abstract: We report the identification and isolation of limbal fibroblast-like cells from adult corneo-limbal tissue possessing self-renewing capacity and multilineage differentiation potential. The cells form cell aggregates or clusters, which express molecular markers, specific for ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm lineages in vitro. Further, these cells mature into a myriad of cell types including neurons, corneal cells, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes and pancreatic islet cells. Despite originating from a non-embryonic source, they express ESC and other stem cell markers important for maintaining an undifferentiated state. This multipotential capability, relatively easy isolation and high rate of ex vivo proliferation capacity make these cells a promising therapeutic tool.
authors.affiliation: Embryonic and Ocular Stem Cell Group, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, R-282, TTC Area of MIDC, Thane Belapur Road, Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400 701, India. Subhadra_kashyap@relbio.com
authors.forename: Subhadra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dravida
authors.forename: Rajarshi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: Shabari P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tipnis
authors.forename: Geeta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ravindran
authors.forename: Firdos
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000494:pharmacology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D002386:Cataract / Q000473:pathology; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000502:physiology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping / Q000379:methods; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D007797:Laminin / Q000502:physiology; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology*; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D055746:Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D007797:Laminin; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055746:Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens; C066584:stage-specific embryonic antigen-4; C059485:matrigel; D007633:Keratins; D000362:Agar; D003094:Collagen