Transdifferentiation of rat keratinocyte progenitors to corneal epithelial cells by limbal niche via the STAT3/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To develop a method for enriching keratinocyte progenitor cells (KPCs) and establish a limbal niche (LN)-mediated transdifferentiation protocol of KPCs into corneal epithelial cells.

Methods

Limbal niche cells (LNCs) were isolated from limbal tissues through enzymatic digestion and characterized. Conditioned medium from LNCs cultures was collected. KPCs were enriched by rapid adhesion of Matrigel and subsequently cultured in either an LNCs-conditioned medium supplemented with KSFM (LN-KS) or SHEM (LN-SH) for 14 days. Corneal-specific marker expression was assessed to evaluate transdifferentiation efficiency. Key transcription factors and signaling pathways involved in the transdifferentiation process were identified through single-cell and RNA sequencing, and were va

SUBMITTER: Wang B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11721064 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature