ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) differentiating into corneal epithelium-like cells after transfection with Pax6 gene. MethodsThe adipose tissue from bilateral inguinal of healthy C57BL/6 mice (5-6 weeks old) was used to isolate and culture ADMSCs.The 3rd passage ADMSCs were subjected to treatments of non-transfection (group A),pcDNA3.1 empty vector transfection (group B),and recombinant plasmid of pcDNA3.1-Pax6 transfection (group C),respectively.At 48 hours after transfection,the cells in groups B and C were selected with G418.The cell morphology changes were observed under the inverted microscope.Pax6 protein and level of corneal epithelial cells specific molecular-cytokeratin 12 (CK-12) were measured by Western blot.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was applied to measure the mRNA expression of CK-12. ResultsNo morphology change was observed in groups A and B.Two different cell clones were found in group C.No.1 selected clone showed a flagstone-like appearance that was similar to that of corneal epithelial cells;No.2 selected clone showed a net-like appearance,with 3-7 cell processes.The Western blot results showed the Pax6 protein expression in 2 clones of group C,but no expression in groups A and B; and CK-12 protein expression was only observed in No.1 selected clone of group C,and no expression in the others.The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR results showed that the CK-12 mRNA expression level of No.1 selected clone of group C was 8.64±0.73,which was significantly higher than that of No.2 selected clone of group C (0.55±0.42),group B (1.36±0.40),and group A (1.00±0.00) (P<0.05),and there was no significant difference among groups A,B and No.2 selected clone of group C (P>0.05). ConclusionPax6 gene transfection could induce differentiation of ADMSCs into corneal epithelium-like cells which express CK-12 at both the mRNA and protein levels.This result provides a promising strategy of generating corneal epithelilcm-like cells for construction of tissue engineered cornea.