The transitional zone between limbus and peripheral cornea. An immunohistochemical study

• Published in: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 1991 - 1999
• Main Authors: Lauweryns, B, van den Oord, JJ, Missotten, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rockville, MD ARVO 01.05.1993; Association for Research in Vision and Ophtalmology
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Biological and medical sciences; Cornea - cytology; Cornea - metabolism; Cytoskeletal Proteins - metabolism; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium - metabolism; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Integrins - metabolism; Limbus Corneae - cytology; Limbus Corneae - metabolism; Metallothionein - metabolism; Middle Aged; Phenotype; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Eye; Visual system; Cornea; Phenotype; Rim of sclera; Stem cell; Epithelial cell; Periphery
• ISSN: 0146-0404; 1552-5783

The authors investigated the phenotypic characteristics of basally located "transitional cells" in peripheral superior cornea, characterized previously by their coexpression of cytokeratin 19 and vimentin and their negativity for AE5. Twenty adult human corneas were studied, using in situ immunohistochemical techniques and a panel of specific monoclonal antibodies against various surface and cytoplasmic molecules. The transitional cells shared staining characteristics with limbal basal cells in their expression of alpha 6 beta 4-integrin, metallothionein, AE1, and transferrin receptor. These "transitional" epithelial cells exhibit a unique phenotype differing from that of the surrounding basal epithelial cells in the peripheral cornea but analogous to that of limbal basal cells. These findings further corroborate the hypothesis that, at least from an immunohistochemical point of view, transitional cells in the superior peripheral cornea exhibit stem cell characteristics.