Limbal niche cells: A novel feeder cell for autologous cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation

Abstract

Aim: To establish a culture system using conspecific limbal niche cells (LNCs) as feeders for autologous cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (COMET). Materials & methods: Rabbit oral epithelial sheets, harvested from culture systems containing LNCs or 3T3 cells, were transplanted onto limbal stem cell-deficient rabbit eyes (COMET-3T3 or COMET-LNCs). Results: After COMET, corneas were relatively restored, with the exception of mild neovascularization in one cornea of the COMET-3T3 group. CD34 was detected in COMET-3T3 group corneas. Corneas of the COMET-LNCs group expressed high levels of PEDF and sFlt-1, but low levels of bFGF, compared with expression in COMET-3T3 corneas. Conclusion: The culture system containing conspecific LNC feeders could substitute for the 3T3 cell system and decrease the risk of neovascularization after COMET.