Although very basic, we need help: We have tried to isolate epithelial cells from cornea, however, we have in our culture dishes two different cell populations (morphologically speaking): epithelial-like and mesenchymal-like cells. What would be the best markers (for both populations) to distinguish them? We have in our lab: beta catenin, pan-cadherin and vimentin.
In general, epithelial cells express high levels of E Cadherin and very low levels of N-Cadherin and vimentin than mesenchymal cells. With reference to corneal cells, I would recommend you to go through this article
http://www.jbc.org/content/early/2013/07/10/jbc.M113.458141.full.pdf+html
I think you should try to use cytokeratin-3 marker to distinguish your corenal epithelium from MSCs, which (theoretically at least) should not have it.
In general, epithelial cells express high levels of E Cadherin and very low levels of N-Cadherin and vimentin than mesenchymal cells. With reference to corneal cells, I would recommend you to go through this article
http://www.jbc.org/content/early/2013/07/10/jbc.M113.458141.full.pdf+html
Thank you Zerina and Sridhar. I had seen papers using citokeratin-3 as a corneal epithelium marker, however, we dont have that antibody. I was wondering the feasibility of using beta catenin and pan-cadherin (I expect that epithelial cells would stain) and vimentin (I expect that mesenchymal/fibroblasts would stain). But what about: would mesenchymal/fibroblasts stain with beta catenin and pan cadherin?
Agree with Sridhar. Vimentin should be good. Not sure about other two.
Mesenchymal cells stain beta catenin relatively higher than epithelial cells
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