Corneal Gene Expression Analysis. Homo sapiens

Transplantation of amniotic membrane-expanded limbal epithelium (AMLE) in place of donor tissue grafts results in significantly improved outcomes for patients suffering from severe limbal stem cell deficiency; however the reasons for such superior results are unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify transcriptional gene profiles specific to AMLE and donor central corneal epithelium (CE), which may contribute to the divergent clinical outcomes observed following transplant. Limbal fibroblasts which underlie the epithelium and secrete extracellular matrix proteins following injury/surgery were also profiled. Using cell culture, immunofluorescence, microarray gene expression profiling and qRT-PCR validation; this study aims to identify enriched biological processes and pathways which characterise AMLE and CE tissues. We hope the study outcomes will shed light onto the factors which contribute to provide the improved clinical outcomes associated with AMLE transplantation. Overall design: Gene expression profiling of three central corneal buttons, three amniotic membrane-expanded limbal epithelial cultures and three limbal fibroblast cultures

羊膜扩增角膜缘上皮（amniotic membrane-expanded limbal epithelium, AMLE）移植替代供体组织移植，可显著改善重度角膜缘干细胞缺乏症患者的预后，但该优异疗效的潜在机制尚不明确。本研究旨在鉴定AMLE与供体中央角膜上皮（central corneal epithelium, CE）的特异性转录基因谱，以期阐明移植术后临床转归出现差异的潜在诱因。位于上皮下方、在损伤或术后可分泌细胞外基质蛋白的角膜缘成纤维细胞，本研究亦对其进行了表达谱分析。本研究通过细胞培养、免疫荧光、基因芯片表达谱分析及实时定量聚合酶链反应（qRT-PCR）验证等技术手段，旨在筛选出表征AMLE与CE组织的富集生物学过程及信号通路。本研究期望通过上述分析，阐明AMLE移植改善临床预后的相关影响因素。实验设计：对3枚中央角膜植片、3份羊膜扩增角膜缘上皮培养物及3份角膜缘成纤维细胞培养物开展基因表达谱分析。