A standard strain of human ocular keratocytes

Ophthalmic Res. 1999;31(1):33-41. doi: 10.1159/000055510.

Abstract

The ability of an injured cornea to regenerate from deep tissue trauma is largely due to wound healing processes mediated by the surviving stromal keratocytes. Despite the importance of the wound healing process, and the ease with which keratocytes can be grown in tissue culture, a standardised strain of the cells has never been made available. Accordingly, this study reports a strain of human embryonic keratocytes, designated EK1.BR as a research tool for the ophthalmic community. EK1.BR has been characterised with respect to life-span, fraction of dividing cells and maintenance of a keratocyte phenotype in culture. It is hoped that these cells will prove useful in the in vitro study of stromal wound healing and the characterisation of keratocyte gene expression.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging / physiology
  • Aminopeptidases / genetics
  • Aminopeptidases / metabolism
  • Cell Movement
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Corneal Stroma / cytology*
  • Corneal Stroma / enzymology
  • Corneal Stroma / growth & development
  • DNA / biosynthesis
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases / genetics
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases / metabolism
  • Exopeptidases
  • Fetus
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / enzymology
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / enzymology
  • Methionyl Aminopeptidases
  • Mitosis
  • Peptide Hydrolases / genetics
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Tissue Donors
  • Wound Healing / physiology
  • beta-Galactosidase / genetics
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • Exopeptidases
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • Aminopeptidases
  • Methionyl Aminopeptidases
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases
  • dipeptidyl peptidase II