Evaluation of chemically induced toxicity using an in vitro model of human corneal epithelium
Abstract
Stratified cultures of human corneal epithelial cells were used as an in vitro model for the evaluation of chemical damage to the ocular surface. Plasmid-transfected human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-T cells; 10.014 pRSV-T), cultured on a collagen membrane at the air-liquid interface, form a stratified epithelium (the HCE-T model). Results showed the HCE-T cell line to be comparable to primary human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells in morphology, keratin expression, and calcium-mediated modulation of morphology. Intercellular junctions and other ultrastructural features common to human corneal epithelium were identified in stratified HCE-T cultures. Chemical effects on morphology and cell viability indicated that the HCE-T model was more resistant to chemical toxicity than HCE-T monolayer cultures. Barrier function established by the HCE-T model was determined by measuring transepithelial permeability to sodium fluorescein (TEP) and transepithelial electrical resistance (TER). Previous results demonstrated similar baseline TEP and TER values for HCE and HCE-T cultures. Stratified HCE-T cultures retained 96.4 +/- 2.2% of the fluorescein applied to the apical surface for 30 min, and attained a TER of 468 +/- 89 ohms x cm(2); thes...Continue Reading
References
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Barrett Esophagus
Barrett’s esophagus if a serious complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease during which the normal esophageal lining changes to tissue that resembles intestinal lining. Here is the latest research.