As research on regenerative medicine is advancing, the technology for properly inducing specific cells is becoming increasingly necessary. However, the manner by which the differentiation of corneal epithelial cells is regulated remains unclear. In this study, we used a new method of screening called iPS interferometry to identify a set of six transcription factors including OVOL2 as key factors in determining the differentiation of human corneal epithelial cells. Inducing this transcription factor set in human skin fibroblasts resulted in the induction of corneal epithelium-like cells expressing keratin 3 and keratin 12 in 10 days. In addition, knocking down OVOL2 in human corneal epithelial cells resulted in a marked decrease in the barrier function, which is an important function of the corneal epithelium. The maintenance mechanism for this was mediated via epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The aforementioned findings could lead to the elucidation of the mechanisms for a highly efficient induction of differentiation from iPS cells and maintenance mechanism of corneal epithelial differentiation function.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 122: 832-840, 2018.