Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of preserving corneal endothelial cells at a high cell survival rate. The present disclosure provides a method of preserving corneal endothelial cells and/or corneal endothelium-like cells, comprising preserving the corneal endothelial cells and corneal endothelium-like cells in a container with a bottom area of at least about 0.7 cm2. Accordingly to the present invention, corneal endothelial cells can be preserved at a high cell survival rate. Corneal endothelial cells preserved in this manner have functions of normal corneal endothelial cells. Such cells can also be used as cells for treating a corneal endothelial disease or the like.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method of purification and preparation of cultured corneal endothelial cells, and in particular, to provide cell surface markers for use in corneal endothelial cells not including transformed cells. Provided are cell markers for distinguishing normal cells and transformed cells, in particular normal and transformed corneal endothelium cells. These cell markers relate to specific cell surface markers, for example, to a normal corneal endothelial surface marker such as CD166, and a transformed cell surface marker such as CD73. By using the transformed cell surface marker such as CD73 to remove transformed cells by sorting, it becomes possible to improve purity of a normal cultured corneal endothelium. By using normal corneal endothelial surface marker such as CD166, or by combined use with the transformed cell surface marker, it becomes possible to provide a means for verifying the purity of a prepared corneal endothelium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medicine and a method for preventing or treating ophthalmic symptoms, disorders, or diseases. The present invention provides an mTOR-inhibitor-containing composition for preventing or treating ophthalmic symptoms, disorders, or diseases. In some of the embodiments of the present invention, this composition is capable of treating or preventing corneal endothelial symptoms, disorders, or diseases; in particular, corneal endothelial symptoms, disorders, or diseases that are attributed to overexpression of the transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) signal and/or extracellular matrix (ECM).

Abstract: Provided is a drug or method for treating or preventing a condition, disorder, or disease of the corneal endothelium caused by transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) signals, mitochondrial abnormalities, and/or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) associated stress in corneal endothelial cells, using p38 MAP kinase inhibitors. The present invention provides a drug which includes p38 MAP kinase inhibitors, and which is for treating or preventing a condition, disorder, or disease of the corneal endothelium caused by TGF-? signals and/or mitochondrial abnormalities in corneal endothelial cells. In the preferred embodiment, the condition, disorder, or disease of the corneal endothelium is Fuchs' corneal endothelial dystrophy.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agent for treating or preventing a disease, a disorder or a condition of a corneal endothelium, said agent comprising a corneal endothelial cell and a myosin II-specific inhibitor. More specifically, the myosin II-specific inhibitor is blebbistatin. The disease, the disorder or the condition is typically a disorder associated with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy or corneal endothelial dysfunction (bullous keratopathy). Also provided is a method for treating or preventing a corneal endothelial disease, said method comprising a step of administering an effective amount of a myosin II-specific inhibitor together with a corneal endothelial cell to a subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a composition for treating or preventing symptoms, disorders, or diseases of the corneal endothelium. The present invention specifically provides a composition which is for treating or preventing symptoms, disorders, or diseases of the corneal endothelium, and includes (T)EW-7197 (N-((4-([1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-6-yl)-5-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl)-2-fluoroaniline), a derivative thereof, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate of any of the foregoing.

Abstract: The inventors have found that VCP inhibitors protect corneal endothelial cells and corneal epithelial cells. Accordingly, the disclosure provides a composition for protecting a cornea comprising a compound of formula (I) or an ester, oxide, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. In another aspect the disclosure provides a composition for treating and/or preventing a corneal disease comprising a compound of formula (I). In a further aspect the disclosure provides a composition for ocular irrigation comprising a compound of formula (I). In a still further aspect the disclosure provides a composition for preserving a corneal graft comprising a compound of formula (I).

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method of purification and preparation of cultured corneal endothelial cells, and in particular, to provide cell surface markers for use in corneal endothelial cells not including transformed cells. Provided are cell markers for distinguishing normal cells and transformed cells, in particular normal and transformed corneal endothelium cells. These cell markers relate to specific cell surface markers, for example, to a normal corneal endothelial surface marker such as CD166, and a transformed cell surface marker such as CD73. By using the transformed cell surface marker such as CD73 to remove transformed cells by sorting, it becomes possible to improve purity of a normal cultured corneal endothelium. By using normal corneal endothelial surface marker such as CD166, or by combined use with the transformed cell surface marker, it becomes possible to provide a means for verifying the purity of a prepared corneal endothelium.

Abstract: Provided is a medicament or a method for treating or preventing a corneal endothelial condition, disorder or disease due to a transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) signal in corneal endothelial cells using a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor (in particular AKP-001), such as a pyrimidinyl isoxazole derivative or a pyridyl isoxazole derivative. In a preferred embodiment, the corneal endothelial condition, disorder or disease due to the TGF-? signal is Fuchs' corneal endothelial dystrophy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for screening for a compound that is effective against disorders of the corneal endothelium. The method according to the present invention comprises: (a) a step for bringing candidate compounds into contact with immortalized cells of Fuchs' corneal endothelial dystrophy in the presence of transforming growth factor (TGF)-?, making evaluations on the inhibitory activity of said candidate compounds against said TGF-?, and selecting a compound having the inhibitory activity; (b) a step for evaluating the toxicity of the compound selected in step (a) with respect to said immortalized cells; (c) a step for evaluating the inhibitory activity of the compound selected in step (a) against said TGF-?; and (d) a step for selecting a compound that has been evaluated to have low toxicity to said immortalized cells in step (b) and has been evaluated to have inhibitory activity against said TGF-? in step (c).

Abstract: Provided is an agent for treating or preventing a corneal endothelial disorder wherein cell proliferation is required. More specifically, provided is an agent for treating or preventing a corneal endothelial disorder, wherein cell proliferation is required, said agent comprising a p38MAP kinase inhibitor. In a preferred embodiment, the corneal endothelial disorder is a wound. In a preferred embodiment, the p38MAP kinase inhibitor is soluble in water. The p38MAP kinase inhibitor may comprise 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole (SB203580) or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for treating or preventing corneal endothelial symptoms, disorders, or diseases that are attributed to TGF-? signaling in corneal endothelial cells. Provided by the present invention is a composition that includes a compound and that is for treating or preventing endothelial symptoms, disorders, or diseases, wherein, when the compound comes into contact with immortalized cells of Fuchs' corneal endothelial dystrophy, (i) said immortalized cells exhibit a cell survival rate (%) of approximately 90% or more after being cultured for 24-28 hours in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM)+2% fetal bovine serum (FBS)+1% penicillin/streptomycin (P/S), and (ii) the ratio of caspase 3/7 activity (%) in the presence of TGF-? with respect to said cellular survival rate (%) is at most 0.8 after being cultured for 24-28 hours in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM)+2% fetal bovine serum (FBS)+1% penicillin/streptomycin (P/S).

Abstract: The present invention provides a medicine and a method for preventing or treating ophthalmic symptoms, disorders, or diseases. The present invention provides an mTOR-inhibitor-containing composition for preventing or treating ophthalmic symptoms, disorders, or diseases. In some of the embodiments of the present invention, this composition is capable of treating or preventing corneal endothelial symptoms, disorders, or diseases; in particular, corneal endothelial symptoms, disorders, or diseases that are attributed to overexpression of the transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) signal and/or extracellular matrix (ECM).

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a method for producing human corneal epithelial sheet, wherein the human corneal epithelial-derived cells obtained by culturing human corneal epithelial cells are cultured on an amnion substrate. [Solution] A method for culturing human corneal epithelial cells using mesenchymal stem cells as the feeder cells; and a method for culturing human corneal epithelial cells using a medium containing a ROCK inhibitor, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, a MAP kinase inhibitor and a TGF-? receptor inhibitor in various combinations.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide, in order to manufacture cells to transplant into patients with corneal endothelial failure, a medium used to culture corneal endothelial cells obtained from human corneal tissue and grow said cells while maintaining the morphology thereof as corneal endothelial cells. [Solution] A medium containing a conditioned medium from mesenchymal stem cells; and a method in which said medium is used to culture corneal endothelial cells.

Abstract: Provided is a drug or method for treating or preventing a condition, disorder, or disease of the corneal endothelium caused by transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) signals, mitochondrial abnormalities, and/or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) associated stress in corneal endothelial cells, using p38 MAP kinase inhibitors. The present invention provides a drug which includes p38 MAP kinase inhibitors, and which is for treating or preventing a condition, disorder, or disease of the corneal endothelium caused by TGF-? signals and/or mitochondrial abnormalities in corneal endothelial cells. In the preferred embodiment, the condition, disorder, or disease of the corneal endothelium is Fuchs' corneal endothelial dystrophy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a graft more suitable for the transplantation of corneal endothelial cells and an application method thereof. Specifically, the present invention provides a corneal endothelial preparation capable of cell proliferation in vivo, which contains a substrate and a corneal endothelial cell layer cultured on the substrate, and a treatment method of a disease selected from the group consisting of bullous keratopathy, corneal edema, corneal leukoma and corneal endothelial inflammation, which includes a step of transplanting the preparation to patients. As the substrate, collagen is used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for treating retinal epithelium and/or nerves. More specifically, the present invention is an agent for the treatment or prevention of retinal disease or the like and/or a disease, disorder, or ophthalmological state of the nerves, the agent including at least one factor selected from the group consisting of laminin and fragments thereof, wherein the problem is solved by also providing a technique characterized in that this agent is administered together with retinal pigment epithelial cells and/or nerve cells. Specifically, the present invention can include laminin 411 (?4?1?1), laminin 511 (?5?1?1), laminin 521 (?5?2?1), or fragments of these.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for treating the cornea. More specifically, the present invention is an agent for the treatment or prevention of a state of corneal endothelial disease, the agent including at least one factor selected from the group consisting of laminin and fragments thereof, wherein the problem is solved by also providing a technique characterized in that this agent is administered together with corneal endothelial cells. Specifically, the present invention can include laminin 511 (?5?1?1), laminin 521 (?5?2?1), or a fragment of these.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a differentiation marker and a differentiation controlling technique for an eye cell. More particularly, the present invention has attained an object of providing a differentiation marker for an eye cell among the aforementioned problems, by providing a marker for identifying a cell having a high proliferation ability among corneal endothelial cells and/or the differentiation ability of a corneal endothelial cell, the marker comprising GPR49/LGR5, as well as a detection agent or detection method for identifying a cell having a high proliferation ability among corneal endothelial cells and/or the differentiation ability of a corneal endothelial cell, comprising a substance binding to GPR49/LGR5. In addition, the present invention has attained an object of providing a differentiation controlling technique for an eye cell, by providing an agent for suppressing differentiation and/or promoting proliferation of an eye cell, comprising R-spondins.