Differences in proliferation and migration of corneal endothelial cells [correction of epithelial cells] after cell transplantation in vitro.

For regular function the human cornea requires an intact endothelial cell layer with a sufficiently high cell density. One approach used to compensate endothelial cell loss is transplantation of cultured corneal endothelial cells. Using a previously described transplantation protocol, we observed topographic differences after transplantation of cultured human corneal endothelial cells to recipient corneas previously denuded of their own endothelium. The results presented in this paper suggest different interactions of the transplanted endothelial cells with the central or the peripheral part of the corneal matrix, respectively. Furthermore, cells isolated from the center of a human cornea differ from those isolated from the periphery in terms of their mitogenic capacity. The significance of these observations for corneal endothelial cell transplantation is discussed.