Method for culture of corneal endothelial cells, process for production of corneal endothelial cell sheet for transplantation purposes, and culture kit for corneal endothelial cells

Abstract

The invention provides a method of culturing a corneal endothelial cell by use of a culture medium containing an ascorbic acid derivative and the like.

1 . A method of proliferating a corneal endothelial cell, comprising culturing a corneal endothelial cell in a culture medium containing ascorbyl 2-phosphate, thereby proliferating a corneal endothelial cell. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the corneal endothelial cell is cultured on a biopolymer. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the biopolymer is an extracellular matrix molecule containing collagen. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the collagen is atelocollagen. 
     
     
         5 . A corneal endothelial cell produced by the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . A method of producing a corneal endothelial cell sheet for transplantation, comprising a step of culturing a corneal endothelial cell in a culture medium containing ascorbyl 2-phosphate, thereby producing a corneal endothelial cell sheet for transplantation. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the corneal endothelial cell is cultured on a biopolymer. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the biopolymer is an extracellular matrix molecule containing collagen. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the collagen is atelocollagen. 
     
     
         10 . A corneal endothelial cell sheet for transplantation, which is produced by the method according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         11 . A corneal endothelial cell culture kit comprising a substrate coated with a biopolymer and a culture medium containing an ascorbic acid derivative.