title: Laminin-511 and -521 enable efficient in vitro expansion of human corneal endothelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of laminin isoforms as substrates for culturing human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) for clinical application of tissue engineering therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of specific laminin chains in human corneal endothelium and Descemet's membrane was analyzed at the mRNA and protein levels. The effect of laminin-511 and -521 on cell adhesion and proliferation was evaluated. Recombinant laminin E8 fragments (E8s), which represent functionally minimal forms of laminins, were also evaluated for their effects on cell density and cellular phenotype. The potential involvement of α3β1 and α6β1 integrins in laminin signal transduction was also investigated using neutralizing antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laminin-511 and -521 were expressed in Descemet's membrane and corneal endothelium. These laminin isoforms significantly enhanced the in vitro adhesion and proliferation, and differentiation of HCECs. A cell density of 2200 to 2400 cells/mm2 was achieved when HCECs were cultured on laminin-511 or -521, whereas the density was only 1100 cells/mm2 on an uncoated control. E8s also supported HCEC cultivation with a similar efficacy to that obtained with full-length laminin. Functional blocking of α3β1 and α6β1 integrins suppressed the adhesion of HCECs even in the presence of laminin-511.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laminin-511 and -521 were the laminin isoforms present in Descemet's membrane, and these laminins modulate the adhesion and proliferation of CECs. Laminin E8s represent an ideal xeno-free defined substrate for the culture of CECs for clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan 2Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kakutani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryohei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Numata
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan.
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlötzer-Schrehardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koizumi
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1 / Q000502:physiology; D039121:Integrin alpha6beta1 / Q000502:physiology; D007797:Laminin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010641:Phenotype; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1; D039121:Integrin alpha6beta1; D007797:Laminin; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C474559:laminin 11 protein, human; C551997:laminin-511, human