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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
07:22
Using a Laminating Technique to Perform Confocal Microscopy of the Human Sclera
Published on: May 6, 2016
Human sclera maintains common characteristics with cartilage throughout evolution.
Yuko Seko1, Noriyuki Azuma, Yoriko Takahashi
1Department of Reproductive Biology and Pathology, National Institute for Child and Health Development, Tokyo, Japan.
Plos One
|November 13, 2008
Summary
Human sclera cells exhibit chondrogenic potential, behaving like cartilage cells when cultured ex vivo. This finding sheds light on scleral diseases and their connection to cartilage in conditions like rheumatic arthritis.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Biology
- Connective Tissue Research
Background:
- The sclera, crucial for eye protection, is implicated in incurable diseases like pathological myopia and scleritis.
- Understanding scleral cell characteristics is vital for treating these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the characteristics of human sclera-derived cells.
- To investigate the potential of scleral cells as connective tissues originating from neural crest and mesoderm.
Main Methods:
- Microarray analysis of cultured human infant scleral cells.
- Hierarchical clustering to compare scleral cells with other mesenchymal cells.
- In vitro culture of scleral cells with growth factors (TGF-betas and BMP2) and gene expression analysis.
Main Results:
- Scleral cells showed similarity to auricular cartilage-derived cells via hierarchical clustering.
- Cultured scleral cells produced abundant matrix when exposed to TGF-betas and BMP2.
- Cartilage-associated gene expression (Indian hedgehog, collagen X, MMP13) was upregulated in vitro, suggesting chondrocyte-like behavior.
Conclusions:
- Human sclera possesses chondrogenic potential, indicating a conserved evolutionary trait.
- This potential explains why sclera and joint cartilage are targeted in rheumatic arthritis.
- The gene expression data aids in understanding developmental diseases like high myopia.
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