Fig. 2

Tissue explant and single cell-suspension cultures produced more LESCs and fewer stromal cells. a, b ABCB5 and p63α positivity in rabbit limbus, with negativity in central cornea. Arrows point to the ABCB5⁺ and p63α⁺ LESCs in the limbus. c, d Expressions of proposed LESC markers (p63α and ABCB5) and stromal cell marker (α-SMA) in P1 and P2 LESCs from the three cultures. Data were given as mean ± SD from three independent experiments. One-way ANOVA analysis: *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. e Flow cytometric staining (gating based on control staining) for p63α and ABCB5 of LESCs (P1) from the three cultures. Scale bar, 50 μm. ABCB5 sub-family B, member 5, α-SMA alpha-smooth muscle actin