Electron Microscopic Study of Anterior Lens Capsule Allotransplants in Chronic Corneal Ulcers

Abstract

On the ultrastructural level, anterior lens capsule allotransplants in mechanically induced corneal ulcer heal with continuously formed epithelial basement membrane and numerous hemidesmosomes. This enables significant reformation of hemidesmosomes that are identical in size to hemidesmosomes in healthy corneas and helps forming a stronger apposition for epithelial cells to underlying structures in eyes where epithelial basement membrane has been destroyed from chronic ulceration.

Human Anterior Lens Capsule as Carrier Matrix for Cultivated Human Corneal Endothelial Cells

“…Meanwhile, studies have demonstrated that HALC is a good substrate for cultivation of corneal epithelial cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells. 19,20 Therefore, HALC might also be an alternative to the Descemet membrane as an HCEC carrier. The aim of this work was to evaluate the general feasibility of using HALC as a scaffold for expansion and transplantation of HCECs.…”

The application of human anterior lens capsule autotransplantation in phacotrabeculectomy: a prospective, comparative and randomized clinical study

“…13 The wound healing process after filtration surgery is a series of complicated biological reactions, which include sludged blood formation period, proliferation period, granuloma formation period, and collagen formation period. In patients without high risk factor for failure, the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts postoperatively culminate in 3-5 days and terminate in 11 days.…”

“…Use of ALC graft for chronic corneal ulcers or as support material in RPE cell transplantation has been well described in literature. [9][10][11][12] ALC transplantation has been shown to be effective in resolution of these problems. It does not result in fibrosis or rejection reaction, and components of humoral immunity do not participate in immune reaction.…”

“…It does not result in fibrosis or rejection reaction, and components of humoral immunity do not participate in immune reaction. 13 The presence of ALC itself or some cytokine released may keep fibroblasts from forming adhesion. We think that the prevention of fibroblast stimulation is beneficial for maintaining a functional bleb after filtration surgery.…”

“…They are too expensive for most patients in the developing countries to use, and these materials are not autogenous. Anterior lens capsule (ALC), the thickest basement membrane of our body, 9 is a constitutive basement membrane of the lens. Use of ALC graft for chronic corneal ulcers or as support material in RPE cell transplantation has been well described in literature.…”