Epithelial stem cells: the eye provides a vision

Lavker, RM; Sun, Tung‐Tien

doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6700575

Cited by 81 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The dogma that murine corneal stem cells reside exclusively in the limbus has been, at least initially, based on the presence of label-retaining cells in the limbal but not in the corneal epithelium [13,14,47]. The study from Mayo et al disavows this dogma and supports the grounded opinion that mitotic quiescence is not an obligatory property of stem cells [48].…”

Section: Location Of Human Corneal Stem Cellsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Epithelial stem cells in corneal regeneration and epidermal gene therapy

Pellegrini

Rama²,

Mavilio

et al. 2008

The Journal of Pathology

102

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Regenerative medicine refers to innovative therapies aimed at the permanent restoration of diseased tissues and organs. Regeneration of self-renewing tissues requires specific adult stem cells, which need to be genetically modified to correct inherited genetic diseases. Cultures of epithelial stem cells permanently restore severe skin and mucosal defects, and genetically corrected epidermal stem cells regenerate a normal epidermis in patients carrying junctional epidermolysis bullosa. The keratinocyte stem cell is therefore the only cultured stem cell used both in cell therapy and gene therapy clinical protocols. Epithelial stem cell identification, fate and molecular phenotype have been extensively reviewed, but not in relation to tissue regeneration. In this paper we focus on the localization and molecular characterization of human limbal stem cells in relation to corneal regeneration, and the gene therapy of genetic skin diseases by means of genetically modified epidermal stem cells.

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Section: Location Of Human Corneal Stem Cellsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Epithelial stem cells in corneal regeneration and epidermal gene therapy

Pellegrini

Rama²,

Mavilio

et al. 2008

The Journal of Pathology

102

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“…Thus, TACs are found mostly in the peripheral cornea, and most cells are terminally differentiated in the central cornea, although the basal layer contains TACs, even centrally. The recognition of the distinct localization of stem cells and their progeny in the corneal epithelium, their easy accessibility on the ocular surface, as well as the transparency of the cornea allowing in vivo observation of the putative LESCs and their niche, has made the corneal epithelium an ideal system for the investigation of epithelial stem and transient amplifying cells (27). In addition, it allowed clinicians to develop corneal epithelial stem cell transplantation procedures for the treatment of so far non curable ocular surface diseases associated with limbal stem cell deficiency, even though a definitive LESC marker still remains elusive (28).…”

Section: Localizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stem cells of the adult cornea: From cytometric markers to therapeutic applications

et al. 2008

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The cornea is a major protective shield of the interior of the eye and represents two thirds of its refractive power. It is made up of three tissue layers that have different developmental origins: the outer, epithelial layer develops from the ectoderm overlying the lens vesicle, whereas the stroma and the endothelium have mesenchymal origin. In the adult organism, the outermost corneal epithelium is the most exposed to environmental damage, and its constant renewal is assured by the epithelial stem cells that reside in the limbus, the circular border of the cornea. Cell turnover in the stromal layer is very slow and the endothelial cells probably do not reproduce in the adult organism. However, recent experimental evidence indicates that stem cells may be found in these layers. Damage to any of the corneal layers leads to loss of transparency and low vision. Corneal limbal stem cell deficiency results in severe ocular surface disease and its treatment by transplantating ex vivo expanded limbal epithelial cells is becoming widely accepted today. Stromal and endothelial stem cells are potential tools of tissue engineering and regenerative therapies of corneal ulcers and endothelial cell loss. In the past few years, intensive research has focused on corneal stem cells aiming to improve the outcomes of the current corneal stem cell transplantation techniques. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on corneal epithelial, stromal and endothelial stem cells. Special emphasis is placed on the molecular markers that may help to identify these cells, and the recently revealed mechanisms that could maintain their ''stemness'' or drive their differentiation. The techniques for isolating and culturing/ expanding these cells are also described. '

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“…Complete removal of the limbus results in impaired corneal function, neovascularisation and conjunctival ingrowth [12]. Limbal basal cells exhibit higher proliferative potential when compared with peripheral and central cells both in vitro and in vivo [22]. Large epithelial wounds in rabbits heal faster than smaller central defects; which can be explained by the fact that the proliferative capacity of the peripheral cornea is greater than that of the central.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%