Molecular basis for three levels of competence to express genes required for corneal repair

Purpose. To understand the molecular basis for differences in the relative competence for expression of specific repair genes among fibroblast phenotypes found in the quiescent or repairing cornea. Methods. Freshly-isolated or subcultured fibroblasls from normal or wounded rabbit cornea were used. Myofibroblast cultures were created by plating fibroblasls at a 1:100 split. Results. Freshly-isolated fibroblasts from the uninjured cornea are …