title: MicroRNA Profiles Qualify Phenotypic Features of Cultured Human Corneal Endothelial Cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate a noninvasive method to qualify and identify cultured human corneal endothelial cells (cHCECs) devoid of cell-state transition and adaptable for cell-based therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The variations of cHCECs in their composition of heterogeneous subpopulations (SPs) were verified in relation to their surface cluster-of-differentiation (CD) markers and their morphology. The profiles of microRNA (miRNA) in cultured cells or supernatants were detected by 3D-Gene Human microRNA Chips (Toray Industries, Inc.). The profiles were also analyzed for fresh corneal tissues with distinct endothelial cell densities (ECD) with or without gutatta. To validate the 3D-Gene results, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed. RNAs were extracted from cHCECs transfected with selected miRNA, and target genes were presumed by PCR array (Qiagen).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among a variety of morphologically different cHCECs, miRNA expression profiles were distinctively revealed. The one miRNA capable of discriminating CD44- SP from SPs with CD44++∼CD44+++ phenotypes was identified as miR34a. The downregulation of miRNAs in the 378 family paralleled the upregulation of surface CD44 on cHCECs. Interestingly, upregulated miRNAs in the 378 family in corneal endothelium dramatically decreased in the tissues with lower ECD with advanced gutatta, providing new insight on the pathogenesis of Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The specified cultured SPs sharing the CD44- surface phenotypes with matured HCECs showed the highest expression of miR-378. Conversely, SPs with upregulated CD44+++ showed a reduction of miR-378. Thus, miRNA in cultured cells may serve as an alternative method to qualify cHCECs.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Morio
authors: M
authors: Ueno
authors: Department of Frontier Medical Science and Technology for Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Kazuko
authors: K
authors: Asada
authors: Department of Frontier Medical Science and Technology for Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Munetoyo
authors: M
authors: Toda
authors: Department of Frontier Medical Science and Technology for Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Asako
authors: A
authors: Hiraga
authors: SightLife, Inc., Seattle, Washington, United States.
authors: Monty
authors: M
authors: Montoya
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Chie
authors: C
authors: Sotozono
authors: Department of Frontier Medical Science and Technology for Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Shigeru
authors: S
authors: Kinoshita
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Junji
authors: J
authors: Hamuro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005642:Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D008875:Middle Aged; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014019:Tissue Donors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C526012:MIRN378 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012313:RNA