title: [In vitro phenotypic characterization of human limbal epithelial cells].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación, Instituto de Oftalmología Fundación Conde de Valenciana, México DF, México.
authors.forename: Gabriel Andrés
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Luna-Baca
authors.forename: Yonathan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Garfias
authors.forename: Atzin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robles-Contreras
authors.forename: María Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Martínez
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology*; D010641:Phenotype