Identification and isolation of human corneal endothelial cells (hcecs)

A method of forming a composition enriched with human corneal endothelial cells comprising:

• (a) contacting a cell population containing human corneal cells with a first positive affinity reagent that selectively binds to human corneal endothelial cells relative to cells other than human corneal endothelial cells and selecting cells to which the first positive affinity reagent is bound, (b) optionally, contacting the cell population with a second positive affinity reagent that selectively binds to human corneal endothelial cells relative to cells other than human corneal endothelial cells and selecting cells to which the second positive affinity reagent is bound, wherein the second positive affinity reagent differs from the first positive affinity reagent and (c) optionally, contacting said cell population containing human corneal cells with a first negative affinity reagent that selectively binds to cells other than human corneal endothelial cells relative to human corneal endothelial cells and removing the cells to which the first negative affinity reagent is bound.