AIM: To determine the proliferative potential and the maintenance of stem cell activity in stored human limbal tissues, and correlate this with the preservation time, cell viability and the expression of stem cell markers. METHODS: Thirty limbal rims were split into 4 parts and stored in corneal preservation medium at 4 degrees C for 0, 1, 4, or 7 days. The limbal stem cell and mitotic markers P63, CK19, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and Ki67 were determined by immunohistochemical staining. The proliferative potential of limbal epithelial cells was assessed by cell viability, the ability of generating stratified epithelium, and colony forming assay. RESULTS: The stored tissues maintained limbal stratified structure to 7 days and exhibited comparable expression level of stem cell and mitotic markers. The proportion of viable cells decreased with the prolonged preservation time, while colony forming efficiency decreased from the 1st day and disappeared at the 4th day. When inoculated on amniotic membrane, the cells preserved for 1 day formed a stratified epithelium, while the cells from 4 days' preservation formed a discontinuous layer. CONCLUSION: The colony forming efficiency of limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells decreased rapidly with the increasing preservation time, while the expression level of markers and capacity of forming epithelial monolayer on amniotic membrane decreased gradually. The limbal epithelial stem cells lost their function earlier than the lost expression level of stem cell markers. This may help us to better choose the appropriate preservation grafts for future limbal stem cell transplantation.
