Chung E H, Bukusoglu G, Zieske J D
Eye Research Institute, Boston, MA 02114.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1992 Jun;33(7):2199-206.
A monoclonal antibody, 4G10.3, was developed that preferentially binds limbal basal cells in adult rat, rabbit, and human corneas. These cells were hypothesized to be the stem cells for the corneal epithelium. The antibody 4G10.3 was localized by immunofluorescence microscopy in rats 1 d and 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, and 6 wk of age. Until 1.5 wk, 4G10.3 bound intensely to all basal cells in the cornea and the limbus. At 2 wks, the basal cells at the central cornea abruptly changed their shape from flattened or ovoid to large and cuboidal and bound 4G10.3 with greatly reduced intensity. Increased stratification of epithelium also was seen. Cells binding 4G10.3 gradually became sequestered to the limbal area after 2 wk, concomitant with increased stratification. At 4 and 6 wk, 4G10.3 binding was identical to that in adult corneas with only limbal basal cells showing positive binding. Basal cells in the limbal epithelium did not decrease their intense binding of 4G10.3 or change their ovoid cellular shape from 1 d through adult life. These results suggest that, during development, stem or stem-like cells are localized throughout the basal layer of the corneal and limbal epithelium. As the cornea matures, these cells are sequestered in the limbus at the same time that stratification of the epithelium and shape changes occur in the basal cells.
一种单克隆抗体4G10.3被研制出来，它能优先结合成年大鼠、兔子和人类角膜中的角膜缘基底细胞。这些细胞被推测为角膜上皮的干细胞。通过免疫荧光显微镜在1日龄以及1、1.5、2、3、4和6周龄的大鼠中对抗体4G10.3进行定位。直到1.5周龄，4G10.3与角膜和角膜缘的所有基底细胞紧密结合。在2周龄时，中央角膜的基底细胞突然改变形状，从扁平或卵形变为大的立方形，并且与4G10.3的结合强度大大降低。还观察到上皮细胞分层增加。2周后，结合4G10.3的细胞逐渐被隔离到角膜缘区域，同时分层增加。在4周和6周时，4G10.3的结合情况与成年角膜相同，只有角膜缘基底细胞显示阳性结合。角膜缘上皮中的基底细胞从1日龄到成年期都没有降低它们与4G10.3的紧密结合，也没有改变它们卵形的细胞形状。这些结果表明，在发育过程中，干细胞或干细胞样细胞分布在整个角膜和角膜缘上皮的基底层。随着角膜成熟，这些细胞被隔离在角膜缘，与此同时上皮细胞分层和基底细胞形状发生变化。
