The purpose of this study is to report the separation and identification of the cellular and molecular properties eyelid fat-derived stem cell (EFSC) as a new source of stem cells in cell therapy and compared to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and adipose mesenchymal stem cells (AMSC).

during blepharoplastic surgery, 1 ml of redundant human eyelid fat was removed from the intraorbital cavity. Cell morphology was monitored with invert microscopy. Furthermore stem cells characteristics were assessed by flowcytometry, airlifting, wound healing, real-time PCR for KRT3, KRT12, Oct4, Nanog, Connexin43 and Sox2 moreover MTT assay and chromosomal karyotype analysis in order to study isolated cells was performed

Eyelid somatic stem cells with spindle-shaped morphology can be quickly split up. Real-time PCR analysis and immunostaining showed that more cells at all levels were found to stain positive for CD105, CD90, CD44, CD166, CD73,Oct4, Oct4, Sox2, Nanog and negative for CD34, CD45, CD31, CD133. After air lifting expression of epithelial marker KRT3, Connexin43 and KRT12 were positive only in EFSCs. Karyotype analysis of EFSCs represented a normal 46XX karyotype after long term continually culture.

Eyelid fat derived stem cells have a high capacity for proliferation and differentiation. Due to the possibility of expression of epithelial markers and the potential of the regeneration as well as its location near the eye, can be described that EFSCs an alternative source to limbal epithelial cells for healing the corneal epithelium. Additional well-designed, prospective, quantitative human trials need to be conducted to bring this technology into standard clinical practice.