Microarray analysis of cell cycle gene expression in adult human corneal endothelial cells.

Corneal endothelial cells (ECs) form a monolayer that controls the hydration of the cornea and thus its transparency. Their almost nil proliferative status in humans is responsible, in several frequent diseases, for cell pool attrition that leads to irreversible corneal clouding. To screen for candidate genes involved in cell cycle arrest, we studied human ECs subjected to various environments thought to induce different proliferative profiles compared to ECs in vivo.

CorneaJ: an imageJ Plugin for semi-automated measurement of corneal endothelial cell viability.

Purpose: A reliable experimental measurement of endothelial cell (EC) viability is paramount in the assessment of new drugs, devices, and surgical processes liable to damage the corneal endothelium, as well as during endothelial bioengineering. We previously used triple Hoechst-Ethidium-Calcein-AM labeling coupled with image analysis to determine the viability and mortality of ECs on the whole cornea, thus defining the new notion of viable EC density. To make it accessible to all, and for improved reproducibility, we have now developed an ImageJ plugin with improved thresholding algorithms.

Novel technique for the preparation of corneal grafts for descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty.

Purpose: To report a simple novel technique to facilitate preparation of Descemet membrane grafts for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Design: Laboratory investigation and retrospective, single-center, consecutive case series.

Methods: Preparation of the endothelial graft is performed on an artificial anterior chamber, endothelial side up.

Revisited microanatomy of the corneal endothelial periphery: new evidence for continuous centripetal migration of endothelial cells in humans.

The control of corneal transparency depends on the integrity of its endothelial monolayer, which is considered nonregenerative in adult humans. In pathological situations, endothelial cell (EC) loss, not offset by mitosis, can lead to irreversible corneal edema and blindness. However, the hypothesis of a slow, clinically insufficient regeneration starting from the corneal periphery remains debatable.

Poloxamines for deswelling of organ-cultured corneas.

Background: Poloxamines are amphiphilic tetrofunctional block copolymers composed of four polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene arms joined to a central ethylene diamine bridge. Their safe profile allows diverse pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

Aim: To assess their use for corneal deswelling using a porcine model of organ culture (OC).