| ObjectiveThere are two kinds of unipotent stem cells on the ocular surface , which locate in the cornea and the conjunctiva, respectively. Many studies have investigated the localization and clinical significance of corneal epithelial stem cells. However, the localization of the stem cells in the conjunctival epithelium is still controversial. The objective of this study is to investigate the localization of the conjunctival stem cells in adults.MethodThe immunohistochemistry method was performed for the expression of ker-atinH (K14),keratin7 (K7),keratin 19 ( K19) ,AE5,MUC5AC,P63 and PC-NA ( proliferating cell nuclear antigen) on the 20 adult's conjunctival epithelium samples. According to the differential expression of the above biomarkers in the conjunctival epithelium, we determined the localization of conjunctival epithelium stem cells in adults .ResultAE5 and K19 have no expression in all the region of adult conjunctiva epithelium. Positive expression was observed for P63 and PCNA in the basal layer cells of conjunctival epithelium and eyelid margin. MUC5AC has positive expression in the kytoplasm of goblet cell. K7 has positive expression in the gland cells of fornical conjunctival epithelium. K14 has positive expression in all theregion of basal part of the conjunctival epithelium and palpebral conjunctiva of eyelid margin.ConclusionThe stem cells of adult epithelium locate in the basal layer of bulbar conjunctiva near corneal limbus. |
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