Identification, Isolation, and Characterization of Melanocyte Precursor Cells in the Human Limbal Stroma.

ABSTRACT: Given their vital role in the homeostasis of the limbal stem cell niche, limbal melanocytes have emerged as promising candidates for tissue engineering applications. This study aimed to isolate and characterize a population of melanocyte precursors in the limbal stroma, compared with melanocytes originating from the limbal epithelium, using magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) with positive (CD117/c-Kit microbeads) or negative (CD326/EpCAM or anti-fibroblast microbeads) selection approaches. Both approaches enabled fast and easy isolation and cultivation of pure limbal epithelial and stromal melanocyte populations, which differed in phenotype and gene expression, but exhibited similar functional properties regarding proliferative potential, pigmentation, and support of clonal growth of l

SUBMITTER: Li S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8998324 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature