Fig. 4

Effect of fibrin gel on ABCB5⁺ limbal stem cells (LSCs). a Fibrin gel is used as carrier for transplantation of ABCB5⁺ LSCs onto the debrided cornea. b Calcein staining demonstrates viability of ABCB5⁺ LSCs after 72 h of culture in fibrin gel. c Fibrin gel does not create hypoxic conditions capable of stimulating VEGF secretion by ABCB5⁺ LSCs in vitro as shown by VEGF secretion after cultivation under hypoxic conditions (as compared to donor-matched ABCB5⁻ limbal cells, left) and in fibrin gel (right). This experiment was performed on LSCs from three donors. Please note different y-axes scales between hypoxia and fibrin gel