Abstract:

Objective To investigate the role of collagen on the homing of trabecular meshwork stem cells (TMSCs) and the interaction of the TMSCs and trabecular meshwork (TM) cells in damage repairing. Design Experimental study. Participants Human TM cells and TMSCs. Methods Human primary TM cells and TMSCs were cultured and passaged. Then they were characterized by quantitative RT-PCR for gene expression and dexamethasone-induced experiment. TMSCs affinity was evaluated by comparing attached cell numbers in a co-culture system. The interaction of the TM cells and TMSCs was recorded by the wound-healing assay and time-lapse microscope. Main Outcome Measures The characterization of the TMSCs and TM cells. Affinity of TMSCs and TM status in the wound-healing assay. Results TMSCs expressed higher level of OCT4 while TM cells expressed higher levels of Chitinase 3-like1 (CHI3L1) and myocilin (MYOC). The expression of MYOC increased in response to dexamethasone.  The numbers of TMSCs attached to the wells with TM feeder (13.1±5.3, P=0.0009), with collagen (22.6±10.1, P<0.0001), with TM feeder and collagen (4.8±2.2, P<0.001) were all significant higher than the attached cells in the plain cell culture wells (3.7±0.5). With ADM3100, inhibition of CXCR4, the numbers of TMSCs attached to the wells were similar in various condition. In wound-healing model, TMSCs induced the division and migration of wounded TM cells. Conclusion TMSCs induced the migration of TM cells to the wounded region hence promoting wound healing. Collage plays a role in the homing of TMSCs.

Key words: trabecular meshwork stem cells, collagen, homing