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Propagating large amounts of human corneal stromal cells (hCSCs) in vitro while maintaining the physiological quality of their phenotypes is necessary for their application in cell therapy. Here, a novel medium to propagate hCSCs obtained from small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)‐derived lenticules was investigated and the feasibility of intrastromal injection of these hCSCs was assessed. Primary hCSCs were cultured in porcine corneal stroma extract (pCSE) with RIFA medium including ROCK inhibitor Y27632, insulin‐transferrin‐selenium, fibroblast growth factor 2, L‐ascorbate 2‐phosphate and 0.5% FBS (RIFA medium + pCSE). Protein profiling of the pCSE was identified using nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (nano LC‐MS/MS). After subculturing in RIFA medium + pCSE or 10% FBS normal medium (NM), hCSCs at P4 were transplanted into mouse corneal stroma. Compared with NM, ALDH3A1, keratocan and lumican were significantly more expressed in the RIFA medium + pCSE. ALDH3A1 was also more expressed in the RIFA medium + pCSE than in the RIFA medium. Fibronectin and α‐SMA were less expressed in the RIFA medium + pCSE than in the NM. Using Metascape analysis, the pCSE with its anti‐fibrosis, pro‐proliferation and anti‐apoptosis activities, was beneficial for hCSC cultivation. The intrastromally implanted hCSCs in the RIFA medium + pCSE had positive CD34 expression but negative CD45 expression 35 days after injection. We provide a valuable new medium that is advantageous for the proliferation of hCSCs with the properties of physiological keratocytes. Intrastromal injection of hCSCs in RIFA medium + pCSE has the potential for clinical cell therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a structurally endogenous peptide with many biological roles. However, little is known about its presence or effects in human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). In this study, the expression of PACAP type I receptor (PAC1R) was first confirmed in hADSCs. Maxadilan, a specific agonist of PAC1R, could increase hADSC proliferation as determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 and cell cycle analysis and promote migration as shown in wound-healing assays. Maxadilan also showed anti-apoptotic activity in hADSCs against serum withdrawal-induced apoptosis based on Annexin V/propidium iodide analysis and mitochondrial membrane potential assays. The anti-apoptotic effects of maxadilan correlated with the down-regulation of Cleaved Caspase 3 and Caspase 9 as well as up-regulation of Bcl-2. The chemical neural differentiation potential could be enhanced by maxadilan as indicated through quantitative PCR, Western blot and cell morphology analysis. Moreover, cytokine neural redifferentiation of hADSCs treated with maxadilan acquired stronger neuron-like functions with higher voltage-dependent tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium currents, higher outward potassium currents and partial electrical impulses as determined using whole-cell patch clamp recordings. Maxadilan up-regulated the Wnt/b-catenin signalling pathway associated with dimerdependent activity of PAC1R, promoting cell viability that was inhibited by XAV939, and it also activated the protein kinase A (PKA) signalling pathway associated with ligand-dependent activity of PAC1R, enhancing cell viability and neural differentiation potential that was inhibited by H- 89. In summary, these results demonstrated that PAC1R is present in hADSCs, and maxadilan could enhance hADSC viability and neural differentiation potential in neural differentiation medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]