Proliferation, cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of AM substrates cultured indirectly with corneal epithelial cells.

Levels were measured in cultures of hiCEC (A, D and G), pCEC (B, E and H) and pKer (C, F and I) by WST-1, LDH and caspase-3 assays. Cells were cultured with AM substrates over a 5 day period and changes in levels are relative to the previous day. Dried and AM substrates pre-treated with trehalose or raffinose stimulated the proliferation of pCEC and pKer, and exerted negligible cytotoxic or apoptotic effects compared to denuded or cryopreserved AM. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM based on three separate experiments. *p<0.05 increase or decrease compared to cells cultured with cryopreserved AM; # p<0.05 increase or decrease compared to cells cultured with dried AM; • p<0.05 increase or decrease compared to cells cultured with raffinose treated AM.