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| Stem cells | Systematic regulation | Findings |
|
| hESCs | Stem cells cocultured with mouse PA6 fibroblasts in serum-free medium containing ascorbate in order to generate NCCs. Subsequently, NCCs were cultured in the pellet model supplemented with KDM | Upregulated gene expression of keratocyte markers (AQP1, B3GNT7, PTDGS, and ALDH3A1); increased secretion of corneal-specific proteoglycan [32] |
| hiPSCs | Stem cells cocultured with bone marrow stroma cell line such as PA6 or MS5, supplemented with FGF-2 to generate NCCs. Subsequently, NCCs were cultured in the pellet model supplemented with KDM | Upregulated gene and protein expression of keratocyte markers (ALDH3A1, KERA, PTDGS, AQP1, CHST6) [33] |
| Stem cells were seeded onto the sclera of corneal rim slice (specific niche including both the physical and biochemical regulations) | Keratocyte-like morphology; upregulated gene expression of keratocyte markers (ALDH3A1, KERA, PTDGS, AQP1, CHST6) [33] |
| hPDLSCs | Stem cells cultured in the pellet model supplemented with CSK induction media | Keratocyte-like morphology; upregulated gene expression of keratocyte markers (CD34, ALDH3A1, KERA, LUM, CHST6, B3GNT7, Collagen Type VIII Alpha 2 Chain (Col8A2)) [6] |
| Stem cells cultured in the pellet model on human amnion stroma (specific niche including both the physical and biochemical regulations) | Keratocyte-like morphology; suppression of fibroblast genes (α-SMA); upregulated gene expression of keratocyte markers (CD34, ALDH3A1, KERA, LUM, CHST6, B3GNT7, Col8A2) [6] |
| Stem cells cultured on porcine corneal stroma (specific niche including both the physical and biochemical regulations) | Presence of keratocyte gene expression (CD34, ALDH3A1, KERA, LUM, CHST6, B3GNT7, Col8A2); negligible fibroblast gene expression (α-SMA) [6] |
| ASCs | Stem cells cultured on fibrin gel supplemented with KDM | Presence of the stroma-specific ECM molecules; keratocyte-like cells; presence of less consistent expression of both KERA and keratan sulfate at protein and mRNA level [1] |
| Stem cells cultured in the pellet model supplemented with KDM | Presence of the stroma-specific ECM molecules; keratocyte-like cells; presence of more consistent expression of both KERA and keratan sulfate at protein and mRNA level [1] |
| hCCSCs | Stem cells cultured on fibrin gel supplemented with KDM | Lower level of KERA mRNA compared with that cultured in pellet; presence of the stroma-specific ECM molecules [1] |
| Stem cells were cultured on highly aligned 3D gel MA hydrogel scaffold with the supplementation of chemical factors (serum, insulin, FGF-2, and ascorbic acid) | Upregulated expression of keratocytes’ genes (KERA, AQP1, and ALDH3A1); Downregulated expression of fibroblastic genes (α-SMA) [66] |
| hMSCs | Stem cells were transplanted into mice’s cornea | Upregulated expression of keratocytes’ mRNA (KERA and LUM) [36] |
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