[In vitro phenotypic characterization of human limbal epithelial cells].
BACKGROUND
Human limbal epithelial cells (huLEC) have been used for clinical purposes in ocular surface diseases to promote rapid re-epithelisation and restore corneal epithelium integrity. However, in Mexico this technique has not been fully developed. This study was conducted to characterize the huLEC phenotype expanded in vitro using a cell culture technique.


METHODS
Cells were obtained from limbal tissue, cultured in KSFM medium and analyzed for the expression of vimentin, K, K19, p63, K12, by flow cytometry and immuno-fluorescence.


RESULTS
The phenotype of cultured cells was vimentin+K+K19+ p63+K12-.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that under these culture conditions huLEC maintained their stem cell phenotype. This culture technique could be used for clinical purposes in Mexico.
Luna-Baca
Gabriel Andrés
GA
Unidad de Investigación, Instituto de Oftalmología Fundación Conde de Valenciana, México DF, México.
Garfias
Yonathan
Y
Robles-Contreras
Atzin
A
Jiménez-Martínez
María Carmen
MC
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology*; D010641:Phenotype