Fig. 4.

KLF4 enhanced human corneal epithelium characteristics. (a) HCECs were transfected with control vector (Control) or KLF4 vector (KLF4⁺). KLF4 overexpression was confirmed by qRT-PCR (biological n = 5, Mann Whitney test) and immunoblotting (biological n = 3). (b) Lentiviral-positive GFP-KLF4⁺ cells appeared slightly bulging compared to GFP-control HCECs (representative of three independent experiments; scale bars, 100 μm). (c) Epithelial markers KRT14 and CDH1 were significantly upregulated in KLF4⁺ HCECs, whilst mesenchymal markers displayed no relevant differences (biological n = 6, Mann Whitney test, N.S., not significant). (d) KRT14 and CDH1 protein levels were increased by KLF4 overexpression (biological n = 3). **P < 0.01.