Wound-Healing Studies in Cornea and Skin: Parallels, Differences and Opportunities

Abstract

The cornea and the skin are both organs that provide the outer barrier of the body. Both tissues have developed intrinsic mechanisms that protect the organism from a wide range of external threats, but at the same time also enable rapid restoration of tissue integrity and organ-specific function. The easy accessibility makes the skin an attractive model system to study tissue damage and repair. Findings from skin research have contributed to unravelling novel fundamental principles in regenerative biology and the repair of other epithelial-mesenchymal tissues, such as the cornea. Following barrier disruption, the influx of inflammatory cells, myofibroblast differentiation, extracellular matrix synthesis and scar formation present parallel repair mechanisms in cornea and skin wound healing. Yet, capillary sprouting, while pivotal in proper skin wound healing, is a process that is rather associated with pathological repair of the cornea. Understanding the parallels and differences of the cellular and molecular networks that coordinate the wound healing response in skin and cornea are likely of mutual importance for both organs with regard to the development of regenerative therapies and understanding of the disease pathologies that affect epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Here, we review the principal events in corneal wound healing and the mechanisms to restore corneal transparency and barrier function. We also refer to skin repair mechanisms and their potential implications for regenerative processes in the cornea.

Exploring the Key Genes and Pathways in the Formation of Corneal Scar Using Bioinformatics Analysis

“…Corneal cells express a variety of growth factors and cytokines that have special e ects on epithelial cells. It is activated during corneal wound healing and plays a major role in corneal in ammation and angiogenesis [27]. THE KEGG pathway analysis also indicated that the DEGs were mainly enriched in Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and Cytokinecytokine receptor interaction, this is consistent with our T 2: e top 15 hub genes rank in cytoHubba.…”

The mouse autonomic nervous system modulates inflammation and epithelial renewal after corneal abrasion through the activation of distinct local macrophages

“…Corneal wound repair is different from the repair of other tissues owing to several unique features. 13 First, the absence of blood and lymphatic vessels limits the relative number of inflammatory cells trafficking to the wound after a corneal injury.…”

Safety and Feasibility of Intrastromal Injection of Cultivated Human Corneal Stromal Keratocytes as Cell-Based Therapy for Corneal Opacities

“…2,3 Upon corneal injury, the quiescent CSKs become activated and change phenotype into stromal fibroblasts (SFs), which are proliferative and produce repair-type extracellular matrix (ECM) components (e.g., fibronectin, proteinases, and a5-integrin) in the event of wound healing. [4][5][6] SFs can further transform into myofibroblasts resulting in scar formation, and the fibrotic tissues interfere with or obstruct light transmission, resulting in reduced visual acuity and eventually vision loss. 7,8 Trauma, infection, degeneration, and immunologic disorders (e.g., keratoconus), inherited diseases, and/or refractive surgeries can lead to CSK death, and the surviving keratocytes can transit to SFs, causing haze development and even opacification when myofibroblasts are present.…”