title: Effect of hypoxia on the proliferation of murine cornea limbal epithelial progenitor cells in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of hypoxia on the proliferation of mouse corneal epithelial cells in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mouse corneal epithelial cells(MCEs) were cultured in normoxia (210mL/L O(2) and 50mL/L CO(2)) and hypoxia (20mL/L O(2) and 50mL/L CO(2)), respectively. Colony forming efficiency (CFE) and cell proliferation were determined. The expression of corneal epithelial progenitor cell marker p63 and K19 was investigated by immunostaining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normoxic colonies were smaller compared with colonies formed in hypoxia. CFE was (12.50±1.50)% in hypoxic cultures, which was similar compared with normoxia cultures [(11.13±1.86)%, P>0.05)]. Cell proliferation was enhanced in hypoxia. Progenitor markers p63 and K19 were expressed in most cells under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Murine limbal epithelial progenitor cells can be efficiently expanded in hypoxic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Han-Qiang
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Liu