Commentary: Lineage Tracing Supports Maintenance of the Corneal Epithelium by Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells

Stem Cells ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 310-311
Author(s):  
John D. West
2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1140-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Basche ◽  
Daniel Kampik ◽  
Satoshi Kawasaki ◽  
Matthew J. Branch ◽  
Martha Robinson ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 246-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Qing Yin ◽  
Wen-Qiang Liu ◽  
Chao Liu ◽  
Yi-Hua Zhang ◽  
Jin-Lian Hua ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abdul-Al ◽  
George Kumi Kyeremeh ◽  
Morvarid Saeinasab ◽  
Saeed Heidari Keshel ◽  
Farshid Sefat

The cornea comprises a pool of self-regenerating epithelial cells that are crucial to preserving clarity and visibility. Limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs), which live in a specialized stem cell niche (SCN), are crucial for the survival of the human corneal epithelium. They live at the bottom of the limbal crypts, in a physically enclosed microenvironment with a number of neighboring niche cells. Scientists also simplified features of these diverse microenvironments for more analysis in situ by designing and recreating features of different SCNs. Recent methods for regenerating the corneal epithelium after serious trauma, including burns and allergic assaults, focus mainly on regenerating the LESCs. Mesenchymal stem cells, which can transform into self-renewing and skeletal tissues, hold immense interest for tissue engineering and innovative medicinal exploration. This review summarizes all types of LESCs, identity and location of the human epithelial stem cells (HESCs), reconstruction of LSCN and artificial stem cells for self-renewal.


2018 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 108-115
Author(s):  
Bartosz Sikora ◽  
Aleksandra Skubis ◽  
Lech Sedlak ◽  
Małgorzata Kimsa-Furdzik ◽  
Marek Kostrzewski ◽  
...  

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 873
Author(s):  
Ovidiu Samoila ◽  
Lacramioara Samoila

The future of eye reconstruction invariably includes stem cells transplantation. Corneal limbus, corneal stroma, trabeculum, retinal cells, optic nerve, and all structures that are irreversibly damaged and have no means to be repaired or replaced, through conventional treatment or surgery, represent targets for stem cell reconstruction. This review tries to answer the question if there is any clinical validation for stem therapies, so far, starting from the cornea and, on the path of light, arriving to the retina. The investigation covers the last 10 years of publications. From 2385 published sources, we found 56 clinical studies matching inclusion criteria, 39 involving cornea, and 17 involving retina. So far, corneal epithelial reconstruction seems well validated clinically. Enough clinical data are collected to allow some form of standardization for the stem cell transplant procedures. Cultivated limbal epithelial stem cells (CLET), simple limbal epithelial transplant (SLET), and oral mucosa transplantation are implemented worldwide. In comparison, far less patients are investigated in retinal stem reconstructions, with lower anatomical and clinical success, so far. Intravitreal, subretinal, and suprachoroidal approach for retinal stem therapies face specific challenges.


2017 ◽  
Vol 86 (7-8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Schollmayer ◽  
Zala Lužnik

Background: Corneal epithelium is renewed by stem cells (SC) that reside at the corneal limbus. Reduced number of SC or their abnormal function lead to the ocular surface disease called limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), characterized by corneal conjunctivalization, vascularization, persistent epithelial defects, chronic inflammation, and loss of vision. In a case of total unilateral LSCD, autologous transplantation of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESC) from the healthy eye is needed. We describe the surgical technique of choice for autologous limbal transplantation, called conjunctival limbal autograft (CLAU) that we combined with amniotic membrane (AM) use. We present the results of CLAU in three patients with total unilateral LSCD due to chemical injury.Methods: Autologous limbal transplantation CLAU begins with the removal of fibrovascular pannus from the diseased corneal surface and the harvesting of two conjunctival-limbal grafts from the healthy eye. The grafts are then transplanted on to the limbal area of the recipient eye. AM is used as a patch to cover the denuded cornea and limbal grafts, as well as a barrier preventing the conjunctival epithelium from encroaching on to the temporal and nasal side of the corneal surface. In the donor eye, AM is used to cover the donor sites. CLAU with the use of AM was performed in 3 patients with unilateral LSCD due to chemical eye injury. In one patient limbal transplantation was combined with symblepharon lysis for entropium repair. In all cases AM was removed 3–6 days postoperatively to assess the growth of new epithelium from the limbal grafts. In all patients the ocular surface was covered with another AM until the cornea was completely epithelized and the new epithelium stable. In one patient the corneal regrafting and cataract removal was performed subsequently.Results: CLAU was successful in 2 patients and partially successful in 1 patient during the follow up. In all cases the growth of new epithelium from the limbal grafts was noted on day 3–6 after CLAU. The cornea was completely epithelized within 2 weeks in 2 patients and after 35 days in one patient. In two patients the corneal epithelium remained clear, smooth and stable during the follow up of 3.5 years and 4 months, respectively. In one patient, uneven epithelium probably representing a mosaic of corneal and conjunctival cells was noted in the central corneal region, where a small corneal ulcer developed 5 months after CLAU. In donor eyes no postoperative complications were noted, the donor sites epithelized within few days.Conclusions: Autologous limbal transplantation according to CLAU surgical technique combined with the use of AM is a successful and safe therapy for restoring corneal surface in total unilateral LSCD after chemical injury. It enables further surgical procedures for restoring the vision such as corneal transplantation and cataract surgery.


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