Enhanced functional properties of human limbal stem cells by inhibition of the miR-31/FIH-1/P21 axis.

Objective: On the basis of the functional roles of the embryonic stem cell niche (ESCN) in the human limbal stem cells (LSCs), we proposed to explore the potential roles of microRNAs in regulating the self-renewal and differentiation of LSCs cultured in the ESCN.

Methods: The LSCs were cultured in different media, either in CnT-20 media or in CnT-20 + 20% ES culture supernatant (ESC-CM). The LSCs cultured in ESC-CM were then transfected with microRNA-31 (miR-31) mimic or antago-31.

Inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in RB116 retinoblastoma cells by afatinib treatment.

The present study investigates the effect of afatinib on the growth, induction of apoptosis in RB116 cells, and reduction of carcinoma growth in the mice transplanted with RB116 cells. The results from MTT assay revealed that afatinib inhibited the growth of RB116 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Proliferation of RB116 cells was reduced to 64 % on treatment with 200 μM concentration of afatinib after 48 h.

Modulation of rabbit corneal epithelial cells fate using embryonic stem cell extract.

Purpose: To develop a new culture system to cultivate differentiated autologous cells in vitro for cell therapy and tissue engineering.

Methods: After incubation in murine embryonic stem cell (ESC) extract for 1 h, streptolysin-O (SLO) permeabilized cells were resealed with CaCl(2) and continually cultured for weeks. The morphological study was analyzed by light microscopy.

Carrier-free epithelial cell sheets prepared by enzymatic degradation of collagen gel.

Limbal stem-cell deficiency by ocular trauma or disease causes corneal opacification and vision loss. Conventional tissue engineering using biodegradable scaffolds has met with limited success. In this study, we developed a novel method for preparing carrier-free epithelial cell sheets, which have potential for use in repairing defects of the ocular surface.