Fig 7. Expression analysis shows limbal rim seeded NCCs adopt an expression profile that is similar to human corneal keratocytes.
qPCR analysis indicated hiPSC-derived NCCs cultured on limbal rim slices (blue bars) adopted an expression profile that was more analogous to human corneal keratocytes than hiPSC-derived NCCs grown in 3D cultures (red bars). Importantly, the expression of a number of keratocyte markers was much higher when derived NCCs were cultured on limbal rim slices, such as ALDH3A1, KERATOCAN, PtGDS and AQP1.