title: A Human Corneal Epithelial Cell Line Model for Limbal Stem Cell Biology and Limbal Immunobiology.
abstract: Limbal stem cell (LSC) deficiency is a visually debilitating condition caused by abnormal maintenance of LSCs. It is treated by transplantation of donor-derived limbal epithelial cells (LECs), the success of which depends on the presence and quality of LSCs within the transplant. Understanding the immunobiological responses of these cells within the transplants could improve cell engraftment and survival. However, human corneal rings used as a source of LSCs are not always readily available for research purposes. As an alternative, we hypothesized that a human telomerase-immortalized corneal epithelial cell (HTCEC) line could be used as a model for studying LSC immunobiology. HTCEC constitutively expressed human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I but not class II molecules. However, when stimulated by interferon-γ, HTCECs then expressed HLA class II antigens. Some HTCECs were also migratory in response to CXCL12 and expressed stem cell markers, Nanog, Oct4, and Sox2. In addition because both HTCECs and LECs contain side population (SP) cells, which are an enriched LSC population, we used these SP cells to show that some HTCEC SP cells coexpressed ABCG2 and ABCB5. HTCEC SP and non-side population (NSP) cells also expressed CXCR4, but the SP cells expressed higher levels. Both were capable of colony formation, but the NSP colonies were smaller and contained fewer cells. In addition, HTCECs expressed ΔNp63α. These results suggest the HTCEC line is a useful model for further understanding LSC biology by using an in vitro approach without reliance on a supply of human tissue. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:761-766.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.|Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Bakiah
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shaharuddin
authors.affiliation: St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.|Department of Eye and Vision Sciences, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sajjad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.|Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nani
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Md Latar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Simi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meeson
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002633:Chemotaxis; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism; D058985:Side-Population Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006680:HLA Antigens; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D019098:Telomerase
keywords: ABCB5; CXCR4; Immunobiology; Limbal stem cell; Side population