Immunohistochemical evidence of the origin of human corneal endothelial cells and keratocytes.

Human corneal endothelial cells and keratocytes were immunohistochemically examined using antisera against neuronal tissue antigens, namely, S-100 protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and intermediate filaments such as vimentin, neurofilament, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The corneal endothelium and keratocytes showed a positive immunoreaction to neuron-specific enolase and S-100 protein antisera, and these cells were also stained with antiserum against vimentin, a main intermediate filament of mesenchymal cells. These immunohistochemical findings provide additional evidence that the corneal endothelium and keratocytes originate from neural crest cells and then differentiate into mesenchymal cells.