A survey of Crystalline Alpha gene expression in eye lens fiber cells derived from Wharton s Jelly mesenchymal stem cells in 3D culture by vitreous fluid

Wharton s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (WJMSCs) are potential renewable source of cells in replacement therapies of many diseases. Different biomaterials have been used as a scaffold to mimic the stem cell niche, which is important for promoting cellular interactions, cell proliferation and differentiation. Encapsulation involves entrapment of living cells within the semi permeable membrane for the exchange of nutrients, oxygen and stimuli, whereas antibodies and host immune cells are kept out. In this study, a new method for culturing and differentiating WJMSCs to eye lens fiber cells in a three dimensional environment using alginate capsules is presented. In this experimental study, WJMSCs were capsulated and cultured in medium contain vitreous fluid and to investigate the expression of α-crystalline A gene, RT-PCR was performed. The encapsulation procedure did not alter the morphology of the encapsulated cells. Post-differentiation analysis confirmed the expression of Alpha-crystallineA as eye lens fiber specific marker. Alginate has potential to be used as a three dimensional (3-D) scaffold for culturing and differentiation of WJMSCs to eye lens fiber cells.

Keywords:

Alginate , Wharton s Jelly mesenchymal stem cells , vitreous , Crystalline