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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
A Simple Mechanical Procedure to Create Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency in Mouse
Published on: November 17, 2016
Effect of mechanical strain on human limbal epithelial cells in vitro
Joo Youn Oh1, Kyoung Ah Jung, Mee Kum Kim
1Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Purpose:
To investigate the effects of the mechanical cyclic strain on the extracellular matrix (ECM) production by cultivated human limbal epithelial cells (HLECs) in vitro.
Methods:
HLECs were repetitively stretched and relaxed by 20% of their original length. Morphology of HLECs was observed, and concentrations of fibronectin and laminin V were measured.
Results:
The strained HLECs were elongated and aligned perpendicular to the direction of force. Fibronectin and laminin V were highly expressed in the strain group compared with the control.
Conclusions:
Cyclic strain induces the synthesis of fibronectin and laminin V in cultivated HLECs.
