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Growth and differentiation of human lens epithelial cells in vitro on matrixPURPOSE: To characterize the growth and maturation of nonimmortalized human lens epithelial (HLE) cells grown in vitro. METHODS: HLE cells, established from 18-week prenatal lenses, were maintained on bovine corneal endothelial (BCE) extracellular matrix (ECM) in medium supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). The identity, growth, and differentiation of the cultures were characterized by karyotyping, cell morphology, and growth kinetics studies, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunofluorescence, and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: HLE cells had a male, human diploid (2N = 46) karyotype. The population-doubling time of exponentially growing cells was 24 hours. After 15 days in culture, cell morphology changed, and lentoid formation was evident. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) indicated expression of alphaA- and betaB2-crystallin, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), and major intrinsic protein (MIP26) in exponential growth. Western analyses of protein extracts show positive expression of three immunologically distinct classes of crystallin proteins (alphaA-, alphaB-, and betaB2-crystallin) with time in culture. By Western blot analysis, expression of p57(KIP2), a known marker of terminally differentiated fiber cells, was detectable in exponential cultures, and levels increased after confluence. MIP26 and gamma-crystallin protein expression was detected in confluent cultures, by using immunofluorescence, but not in exponentially growing cells. CONCLUSIONS: HLE cells can be maintained for up to 4 months on ECM derived from BCE cells in medium containing FGF-2. With time in culture, the cells demonstrate morphologic characteristics of, and express protein markers for, lens fiber cell differentiation. This in vitro model will be useful for investigations of radiation-induced cataractogenesis and other studies of lens toxicity.
Document ID
20040112697
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Blakely, E. A.
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley. Cellrex, San Francisco, United States)
Bjornstad, K. A.
Chang, P. Y.
McNamara, M. P.
Chang, E.
Aragon, G.
Lin, S. P.
Lui, G.
Polansky, J. R.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 2000
Publication Information
Publication: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science
Volume: 41
Issue: 12
ISSN: 0146-0404
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: EY-10737
CONTRACT_GRANT: EY-02477
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Radiation Health

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