OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to create an ex vivo model to examine the expression of major heat-shock protein (HSP) families; HSP60, HSP72, and HSP90, and heat-shock cognate 70 (HCS70) at the mRNA and protein level in differentiating corneal cells from limbal stem cells (LSC) following air exposure. METHODS Limbal biopsies taken from cadaveric normal human limbus were cultivated as exp...

PURPOSE To isolate dendritic cells (DC) from rat corneas and to examine their functions and surface markers in vitro. METHODS Cells were isolated enzymatically from dissected rat corneas and cultured for various intervals of time. Dendritic cells were enriched immunomagnetically from corneal cell preparations using monoclonal antibodies against DC surface antigens and tested for functional ac...

purpose: to separate and characterize orbital fat-derived stem cells (ofscs) and compare its cellular and molecular properties with those of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (mscs) and adipose-derived stem cells (ascs). methods: stem cells from orbital fat, abdominal fat and bone marrow aspirates have been isolated. we assessed stem cell specific cell surface markers using cytometry, ...

Corneal keratoplasty (penetrating or lamellar) using cadaveric human tissue, is nowadays the main treatment for corneal endotelial dysfunctions. However, there is a worldwide shortage of donor corneas available for transplantation and about 53% of the world's population have no access to corneal transplantation. Generating a complete cornea by tissue engineering is still a tough goal, but an en...

PURPOSE The homeodomain transcription factor, PITX2, is at the apex of a genetic pathway required for corneal development, but the critical effector genes regulated by the PITX2 remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to discover and validate PITX2-dependent mechanisms required for specifying cell lineages and establishing angiogenic privilege within the developing cornea. METHODS Micro...

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) that can cause high mortality may be diagnosed by cutaneous markers such as earlobe crease. Aside from the crease, other are suspected of helping detect existence CAD. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate prevalence in patients with CAD submitted coronary angiography.Case Report: A study was conducted involving 115 who had undergone angiography con...

PURPOSE To examine the normal murine corneal stroma for the presence of bone marrow-derived leukocytes. METHODS Wholemounts of paraformaldehyde-fixed corneal stroma from normal mice at 5 to 16 weeks of age were examined in single- and double-color immunomorphologic studies performed with confocal microscopy. The phenotype, morphology, distribution, and density of immunopositive cells were det...

PURPOSE Transplantation of ex vivo expanded limbal epithelial progenitor cells (LEPCs) on epithelially denuded amniotic membrane (dAM) in supplemented hormonal epithelial medium (SHEM) is an alternative solution for treating corneal blindness due to limbal stem cell (SC) deficiency. Because the phenotype of limbal niche cells (NCs) is preserved better in serum-free modified embryonic stem cell ...