Description

The cornea is a unique tissue for two reasons: the transparency function and the synthesis of most of its proteins due to the cornea being an avascular tissue. The cornea consists of three distinct cell layers: the outer epithelium, the inner endothelium and the central stroma (the keratocytes). The corneal epithelium plays a role in the innate immune response by sensing the presence of pathogens and providing signals that activate the corneal defense system [1]. It also highly expresses aldehyde dehydrogenase to protect against UV- and 4-hydroxynonenal-induced cellular damage [2]. Corneal epithelial basal cell proliferation is controlled by a host of cytokines, e.g., epidermal growth factor, that activate their cognate receptors in the deeper layers of the epithelium [3]. Instead of testing products in the eyes of animals, cultured corneal epithelial cells could be used for toxicology tests in in vitro models and for studying the molecular mechanisms involved in regulating human corneal epithelial cell differentiation.

PCEpiC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from porcine cornea. PCEpiC are cryopreserved from passage one culture. Each vial contains >5 x 10^5 cells in 1 ml volume. PCEpiC are characterized by their cobble stone morphology serum-free culture and immunofluorescent method with antibody to CK-18 and -19. PCEpiC are negative mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. PCEpiC are guaranteed to further expand for 10 population doublings at the condition provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.

Product Use

PCEpiC are for research use only. It is not approved for human or animal use, or for application in in vitro diagnostic procedures.

Storage

Directly and immediately transfer cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen upon receiving and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until cell culture needed for experiments.

Shipping

Dry ice.

Reference

[1] Zhang, J., Wu, X. Y. and Yu, F. S. (2005) Inflammatory response of corneal epithelial cells to pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Curr. Eye Res. 30:527-534.
[2] Pappa, A., Brown, D., Koutalos, Y., Degregori, J., White, C. and Vasiliou, V. (2005) Human aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1 inhibits proliferation and promotes survival of human corneal epithelial cells. J. Biol. Chem. 280:27998-28006.
[3]. Yang, H., Mergler, S., Sun, X., Wang, Z, Lu, L., Bonanno, J. A., Pleyer, U. and Reinach, P. S. (2005). TRPC4 knockdown suppresses EGF-induced store operated channel activation and growth in human corneal epithelial cells. J Biol Chem.