Description

The cells that make up the mammalian lens consist of two types: lens fiber cells, which form the bulk of the lens, and a monolayer of epithelial cells that cover the anterior surface of the fibers. The normal development of the lens of the eye involves the progressive differentiation and maturation of the lens epithelial cells. As these cells migrate from the equatorial region of the lens into the interior of the lens, they produce the transparent crystallins, elongate to form lens fiber cells, and lose their nuclei and other organelles [1]. The causes of lens epithelial cell differentiation are not well understood; however, some progress has been made in determining the underlying molecular and cellular processes of lens epithelial cell differentiation. This process can be promoted by growth factors present in the ocular fluids [2]. Some growth factors, such as epidermal growth factor, promote mitosis; others, such as basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin growth factor, and insulin, promote cell migration and differentiation [3].

PLEpiC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from porcine lens. PLEpiC are cryopreserved at primary culture and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 10^5 cells in 1 ml volume. PLEpiC are characterized by immunofluorescent method with antibodies to cytokeratin-18, cytokeratin-19 and fibronectin. PLEpiC are negative for mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. PLEpiC are guaranteed to further expand for 5 population doublings at the condition provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.

Recommended Medium

It is recommended to use Epithelial Cell Medium (EpiCM, Cat. No. 4101) for the culturing of PLEpiC in vitro.

Product Use

PLEpiC are for research use only. It is not approved for human or animal use, or for application in in vitro diagnostic procedures.

Storage

Directly and immediately transfer cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen upon receiving and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until cell culture needed for experiments.

Shipping

Dry ice.

Reference

[1]. Wagner, L. M. and Takemoto, D. J. (2001) PKCa and PKC overexpression causes lentoid body formation in the N/N 1003A rabbit lens epithelial cell line. Molecular Vision 7: 138-144.
[2]. Lang, R. A. (1999) Which factors stimulate lens fiber cell differentiation in vivo Invest Opthalmol Vis Sci 40:3075-8.
[3]. Leenders, W. P., van Genesen, S. T., Schoenmakers, J. G., van Zoelen, E. J., Lubsen, N. H. (1997) Synergism between temporally distinct growth factors: bFGF, insulin and lens cell differentiation. Mech Dev. 67:193-201.