Human limbal mesenchymal stem cells express ABCB5 and can grow on amniotic membrane

Aim: To isolate and characterize limbal mesenchymal stem cells (LMSCs) from human corneoscleral rings. Materials & methods: Cells were isolated from corneoscleral rings and cultured in a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-selective media and examined for differentiation, phenotyping and characterization. Results: LMSCs were capable of trilineage differentiation, adhered to tissue culture plastic, expressed HLA class I and cell surface antigens associated with human MSC while having no/low expression of HLA class II and negative hematopoietic lineage markers. They were capable for CXCL12-mediated cellular migration. LMSCs adhered, proliferated on amniotic membrane and expressed the common putative limbal stem cell markers. Conclusion: Limbal-derived MSC exhibited plasticity, could maintain limbal markers expression and demonstrated viable growth on amniotic membrane.