Small-Molecule Induction Promotes Corneal Endothelial Cell Differentiation From Human iPS Cells.

ABSTRACT: Purpose: Corneal endothelial cells (CECs) serve as a barrier and foothold for the corneal stroma to maintain the function and transparency of the cornea. Loss of CECs during aging or disease states leads to blindness, and cell replacement therapy using either donated or artificially differentiated CECs remains the only curative approach. Methods: Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) that were cultured in chemically defined medium were induced with dual-SMAD inhibition to differentiate into neural crest cells (NCCs). A small-molecule library was screened to differentiate the NCCs into corneal endothelial-like cells. The characteristics of these cells were identified with real-time PCR and immunofluorescence. Western blotting was applied to detect the signaling pathway

SUBMITTER: Chen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8714889 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature