A Rapid Separation of Two Distinct Populations of Mouse Corneal Epithelial Cells with Limbal Stem Cell Characteristics by Centrifugation on Percoll Gradient

Abstract

These findings demonstrate the presence of two distinct populations of corneal epithelial cells with limbal SC characteristics, based on differential expression of the keratin-specific marker K12 and transcription factor p63, and suggest a difference in developmental stage of the two populations, with the K12(-)p63(+) population being closer to the primitive limbal SC.