Limbal stem cells: the search for a marker

Chee, Kevin Y H; Kicic, Anthony; Wiffen, Steven J.

doi:10.1111/j.1442-9071.2006.01147.x

Cited by 106 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Positive LESC markers include cytokeratins Ck15, Ck14, Ck19, NGF receptor TrkA, vimentin, integrins a6, a9, b1, and b4. Negative markers are involucrin, connexins 43, and 50, along with cytokeratins Ck3 and Ck12 [reviewed in (56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)]. A recent study has shown that integrin a9 positive cells are located adjacent to label retaining limbal basal cells, which in turn are negative for integrin a9.…”

Section: Molecular Markers Of Lescsmentioning

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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Section: Molecular Markers Of Lescsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2008

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“…Experimental and clinical evidence pointing to the limbus as the source of corneal epithelial stem cells is compelling [19][20][21][22]. Relatively undifferentiated and slow-cycling epithelial cells have been found in the limbal basal layer but not in the central cornea [12][13][14].…”

Section: Location Of Human Corneal Stem Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The limbus harbours the stem cells of the corneal epithelium [10,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Limbal stem cell identification and molecular characterization have been reviewed [19,20], but not in relation to tissue regeneration. We address here some of the issues related to limbal stem cell-mediated regenerative medicine.…”

Section: G Pellegrini Et Almentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Relatively undifferentiated and slow-cycling epithelial cells have been found in the limbal basal layer but not in the central cornea [12][13][14]. Cell migration from the limbus towards a wounded cornea [14,15,20,[23][24][25][26] and mathematical analyses of the maintenance of the corneal epithelial cell mass [27] strengthened the X, Y, Z hypothesis of corneal epithelial preservation by proliferating and migrating limbal stem cells [28]. Surgical removal of the limbus initially results in corneal healing [29] but subsequent corneal mechanical wounds result in a progressive vascularization and recurrent erosions of the cornea, confirming that the corneal epithelium has a limited regenerative capacity [29].…”

Section: Location Of Human Corneal Stem Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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“…However, an open issue in corneal regeneration is the lack of a dependable surface marker of the limbal stem cell population (41). The results of this work show that CD38 and CD157 mark subsets of human corneal epithelial cells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%