Anmol Sandhu: Investigating umbilical cord cells for repair of the damaged corneal endothelium
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a progressive eye disease marked by corneal endothelial cell (CEC) dysfunction, leading to vision loss. Currently, corneal transplantation is the main treatment, but a global donor shortage highlights the need for alternatives. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) may serve as a potential CEC replacement therapy.In this study, HUVECs (n = 10) were differentiated into CEC-like cells using CEC-conditioned medium. Differentiation was assessed through morphology, PCR, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometry. Functional evaluation included electric cell-substrate impedance sensing, dye-leak assays, and scratch assays.Results showed that differentiated HUVECs displayed a polygonal morphology and expressed key CEC markers, such as ZO1 and ATP1A1. They exhibited increased electrical resistance and effectively prevented dye leakage. Additionally, the cells demonstrated regenerative potential after injury. These findings suggest that HUVECs can differentiate into functional CEC-like cells, presenting a promising approach for FECD treatment.