PURPOSE. Fetal cartilage-derived progenitor cells (FCPCs) emerged as a potential of viable cells for use in tissue engineering. But there have been no reports of differentiation into corneal epithelial cells using FCPCs. In this study, we have analyzed the differentiation capabilities of FCPCs towards differentiated corneal epithelial-like cells in order to establish the potential usefulness of these cells for corneal epithelium disease.
METHODS. The FCPCs were isolated from the femoral head of the fetal cartilage tissue. The differentiation into corneal epithelial cells ability of FCPCs was evaluated using a differentiation-media at 2 days, 7 days post seeding. And, FCPCs-sheet, fabricated by FCPCs, was also used for differentiation assay. In vitro test, the results were evaluated by ICC and western blot for corneal epithelial cell markers (Pax6, ABCG2, p63, and CK3). For in vivo test, FCPCs-sheet was applied to treat the chemical burn rabbit model. There were 3 groups: 1) Normal, 2) Untreated group, and 3) FCPCs-sheet treated group (n = 6). At 1 week post transplantation, the healing ability was observed by histology (HE, IHC for CK3, human nucleic antibody).
RESULTS. In vitro experiments, there were the morphological changes in FCPCs at 2 and 7 days of culture. The differentiated cells from FCPCs or FCPCs-sheet expressed the corneal epithelial cells markers. In vivo experiment, the adhesive ability and viability of FCPCs-sheet was showed. The healing ability of chemical burn model was also observed.
CONCLUSIONS. This study found that FCPCs-sheet improves repair of corneal defect in chemical burn disease, probably by differentiation of FCPCs to corneal epithelium like cells.