Cell Specification
The keratocyte, or corneal fibroblast, is a highly specialized cell that is sandwiched between orthogonally arranged layers of collagen lamellae in the corneal stroma. They play a key role in maintaining the structure and transparency of the cornea as they are the source of stromal collagen and proglycans. They also play important roles in corneal wound healing and tissue repair and are known to undergo phenotypic transformations in wounds due to the influence of growth factors and cytokines [1]. Under normal conditions, the keratocyte in the adult cornea is a relatively quiescent cell. However, in the event of a corneal injury or trauma, the keratocytes differentiate into active, synthesizing cells and rapidly replace damaged stromal matrix. Cultured human keratocytes express functional IL-4Rs [2] and IL-17R [3] on cell surface, suggesting that these cells may contribute to the role of IL-4 and IL-17 as mediators of allergic reactions in the cornea. Changes in gene expression were reproducibly observed on keratocytes after interleukin-1 treatment which provides important insight in gene expression and suggests novel therapeutic targets for the control of corneal inflammation [4].

HK from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human cornea. HK are cryopreserved at primary culture. Each vial contains >5 x 10⁵ cells in 1 ml volume. HK are characterized by their spindle morphology and immunofluorescent method with antibody to fibronectin. HK are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HK are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings at the condition provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.

Recommended Medium
It is recommended to use Fibroblast Medium (FM, Cat. No. 2301) for the culturing of HK in vitro.

Product Use
HK are for research use only. It is not approved for human or animal use, or for application in in vitro diagnostic procedures.

Storage
Directly and immediately transfer cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen upon receiving and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until cell culture needed for experiments.

Shipping
Dry ice.

Reference
[1] Fini, M. E. (1999) Keratocyte and fibroblast phenotype in the repairing cornea. Prog Retin Eye Res 18:529-551.
[2] Fukuda, K., Fujitsu, Y., Kumagai, N., Nishida, T. (2002) Characterization of the interleukin-4 receptor complex in human corneal fibroblasts. Invest Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 43(1):183-8.
[3] Maertzdorf, J., Osterhaus, A. D., Verjans, G. M. (2002) IL-17 expression in human herpetic stromal keratitis: modulatory effects on chemokine production by corneal fibroblasts. J. Immunol. 169(10):5897-903.
[4] Mahajan, V. B., Wei, C., McDonnell, P. J. 3rd. (2002) Microarray analysis of corneal fibroblast gene expression after interleukin-1 treatment. Invest Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 43(7):2143-51.