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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

In Vitro and In Vivo Models to Study Corneal Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 20, 2016
Immunological features of human corneal endothelial cells
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. fanwang_hh@yahoo.com
Purpose:
To investigate the function of human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) as immunological cells.
Methods:
Expression of HLA-DP, -DQ, -DR, CD40, CD80 and CD86 was determined by immunohistochemical methods. Purified peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cocultured with HCEC, part of which had been pretreated with gamma-interferon (IFN), and activation of lymphocytes was determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis.
Results:
In the coculture system, T lymphocytes were activated by corneal endothelial cells; HLA-DP, -DQ, -DR and CD40 expressions were increased by gamma-IFN pretreatment. Costimulatory CD80 was shown on the endothelial cells.
Conclusions:
HCEC can be assumed to be involved in the rejection process of corneal transplants as potential antigen-presenting cells.
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