Objective To construct a tissue-engineered human corneal endothelium with normal morphology, histological property, and evaluate its functions in monkey models. Methods Experimental study. Tissue-engineered HCE (TE-HCE) was constructed by culturing monoclonal human corneal endothelial cells (mcHCE cells) on mdAMs in 20% fetal bovine serum-containing DMEM/Ham′s Nutrient Mixture F12 (1:1) medium and 5% CO2 at 37 ℃ on a 24-well culture plate. The constructed TE-HCE and mdAM were transplanted into monkey corneas via penetrating keratoplasty with Descemet′s membrane and endothelium stripped 3 right eyes respectively, left eyes as normal control eyes (6 eyes). The corneal transparency, endothelial cell density, thickness and intraocular pressure were monitored in vivo. Data were analyzed for statistical significance with one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results The constructed TE-HCE, with an average density of 3 602±45 cells/mm2, mimicked its natural counterpart both in morphology and histological structure. In vivo, corneal transparency was maintained with the density of 2 796±157 cells/mm2, and the corneal thickness gradually decreased after TE-HCE transplanted into monkey eyes, while intense corneal edema and turbid were found in mdAM-transplanted eyes with their corneal thicknesses increased during the monitoring period. Besides, the cells in transplanted area of corneal endothelium, with CM-DiI label, were all the seeder cells from constructed TE-HCE. Conclusion The constructed TE-HCE has normal histological property and functions well in monkey models. The TE-HCE could be used as a promising HCE equivalent in therapy of corneal endothelium dysfunction and corneal regenerative medicine.
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