title: Characterization of the phenotype and functionality of corneal epithelial cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the optimum conditions for the differentiation of a mouse embryonic stem cell line towards corneal epithelial cell fate.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of conditioned media from both metabolically active (to produce lineage A) and growth-arrested limbal fibroblasts (lineage G) were compared with basal media (lineage N) in terms of morphology and marker expression, assessed by immunocytochemistry and reverse transcription PCR. Cultures were transplanted into a porcine ex vivo model to investigate their ability for wound healing and cornea repair.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lineage N exhibited cobblestone morphology and expressed CK12 and p63α, while OCT4 and SSEA1 were downregulated. Post-transplantation, these cells were able to multilayer and heal after wounding while maintaining marker expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lineages with corneal epithelial-like characteristics, which are derived from embryonic stem cells, have potential for use in the study of corneal wound healing and therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ocular Biology & Therapeutics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK. m.notara@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Notara
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Julie T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Daniels
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053551:Keratin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D034421:Sus scrofa; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053551:Keratin-12; D012333:RNA, Messenger