Embryoid body-based differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells into cells with a corneal stromal keratocyte phenotype.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The transparency of the cornea is determined by the extracellular matrix, which is secreted by corneal stromal keratocytes (CSKs). Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived keratocytes (hiPSC-CSKs) can be used in cell-based therapy for treating corneal blindness. Our goal was to develop an effective small molecule-based technique for differentiating hiPSCs into keratocytes.

Methods and analysis

hiPSCs were cultured in chemically defined medium, and embryoid bodies (EBs) were generated; these EBs were induced into CSKs using keratocyte-differentiated medium. The expression of keratocyte-specific markers was assessed using quantitative RT-PCR, immunostaining and Western blotting.

Results

We found that the expression of genes encoding keratocyte marke

SUBMITTER: Chen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11605830 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature