Article
Ophthalmology
Wending Yang, Sun Kyong Lee, Ordan J. Lehmann, Zhijian Wu, Suja Hiriyanna, Anand Swaroop, Robert M. Lavker, Han Peng, Tsutomu Kume
Summary: Limbal epithelial stem cells can change from a quiescent mitotic phenotype to a rapidly proliferating cell in response to corneal epithelial wounding. Overexpression of FOXC1 in the limbal epithelium enhances the behavior of stem cells and promotes their transition from quiescence to a highly proliferative status.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Aastha Singh, Virender S. Sangwan
Summary: Simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) is a cost-effective and efficient technique for limbal stem cell transplantation that has been successfully performed in various clinical scenarios worldwide. The increasing literature on SLET and positive outcomes reported suggest its growing importance in treating patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Meri Vattulainen, Tanja Ilmarinen, Taina Viheriala, Vilma Jokinen, Heli Skottman
Summary: Functional limbal stem cells (LSCs) were successfully differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), showing similar marker expression and wound healing capacity to tissue-derived LSCs. Post-thaw hPSC-LSCs exhibited a robust response to the injury-associated signal mediator ATP and demonstrated higher wound healing capacity compared to tissue-derived LSCs.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah Y. T. Robertson, JoAnn S. Roberts, Sophie X. Deng
Summary: Limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LSCs) reside in a niche with finely tuned balances of various signaling pathways, and respond to molecular signals as well as physical structure. Damage to LSCs or their niche leads to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), and understanding the molecular regulation of LSCs is crucial for treating LSCD effectively.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Berbang Meshko, Thomas L. A. Volatier, Karina Hadrian, Shuya Deng, Yanhong Hou, Mark Andreas Kluth, Christoph Ganss, Markus H. Frank, Natasha Y. Frank, Bruce Ksander, Claus Cursiefen, Maria Notara
Summary: The limbal epithelial stem cell (LESC) marker ABCB5 was used to investigate its role in corneal neovascularization. It was found that ABCB5 caused an increase in limbal lymphatic and blood vessel complexity in developing mice, but not in adult mice. Furthermore, in an inflammatory challenge, ABCB5 had a pro-lymphangiogenic effect. In addition, ABCB5-positive cells stimulated blood and lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation and migration, and had both pro-(lymph) angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Songjiao Zhao, Xichen Wan, Yiqin Dai, Lan Gong, Qihua Le
Summary: This study found that WNT16B enhances the proliferation and self-renewal of LECs through the CXCR4/MEK/ERK signaling pathway and promotes corneal epithelial wound healing.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fawzia Bardag-Gorce, Alissa Diaz, Robert Niihara, Jeremy Stark, Daileen Cortez, Alexander Lee, Richard Hoft, Yutaka Niihara
Summary: This study investigated the expression of ALDHs in rabbit corneas with LSCD and found that grafting with CAOMECS to reconstruct corneal epithelium can reduce the expression levels of ALDH enzymes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Hui Zhu, Wei Wang, Yongyao Tan, Guanyu Su, Lingjuan Xu, Meng Lin Jiang, Shen Li, Yaa-Jyuhn James Meir, Yunming Wang, Guigang Li, Huamin Zhou
Summary: This study investigates the phenotypic changes of mature corneal epithelial cells (MCECs) when cocultured with limbal niche cells (LNCs) in three-dimensional Matrigel (3D Matrigel) in vitro. The results show that cocultured MCECs express different markers and form holoclones composed of cubic epithelial cells.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Lamia Nureen, Nick Di Girolamo
Summary: Diabetic keratopathy, caused by impairments in corneal epithelial regeneration, negatively affects vision and quality of life in patients with diabetes. This review examines aberrant activity of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) in diabetes, discussing factors influencing their form and function, emerging therapies to correct these defects, and the consequences of malfunctioning or depleted LESCs in diabetic corneal disease and limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Zhenzhen Zhang, Lingling Yang, Ya Li, Di Sun, Rong Chen, Shengqian Dou, Ting Liu, Sai Zhang, Qingjun Zhou, Lixin Xie
Summary: Diabetic keratopathy (DK) is characterized by delayed epithelial regeneration and sensory nerve degeneration, and here we found that dysfunction of limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSPCs) is involved in the pathogenesis. Sympathetic overactivation was observed in diabetic mice and directly impaired LSPCs function, while surgical and pharmacological ablation of sympathetic nerves restored LSPCs function and promoted corneal epithelial regeneration. Furthermore, Adrb2 was identified as the predominant adrenergic receptor expressed in LSPCs, and its knockout or specific antagonist application accelerated diabetic corneal epithelial regeneration through the NE-Adrb2-Shh signaling pathway.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Qian Xue, Liang Ma, Hanyi Hu, Qi Li, Weiwei Wang, Huayong Yang, Bin Zhang
Summary: Limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) play a crucial role in maintaining and repairing the corneal surface. However, injuries and diseases can lead to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), causing corneal opacity and inflammation. Cultured LESC therapy has shown promise in treating LSCD, but there is a global shortage of donor corneas. 3D bioprinting offers potential solutions by allowing the construction of alternative limbus stem cells for personalized corneal implants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOPRINTING
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Faisal Masood, Jin-Hong Chang, Anosh Akbar, Amy Song, Wen-Yang Hu, Dimitri T. Azar, Mark Rosenblatt
Summary: Limbal stem cells play a crucial role in corneal epithelium regeneration. When these stem cells are damaged severely, a condition called limbal stem cell deficiency occurs, leading to vision impairment. This article reviews the current therapeutic use of limbal stem cells, discusses markers that influence their phenotype and function, and explores the potential of modulating these cells and other sources of stem cells for innovative therapies. Challenges and strategies for widespread adoption of these methods are also discussed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia I. Khorolskaya, Daria A. Perepletchikova, Kirill E. Zhurenkov, Daniel V. Kachkin, Aleksandr A. Rubel, Miralda I. Blinova, Natalia A. Mikhailova
Summary: Ocular surface reconstruction is crucial for treating corneal epithelial defects and restoring vision. This study investigated the use of EGFP-labeled limbal mesenchymal stem cells (L-MSCs-EGFP) for corneal reconstruction and examined their fate after transplantation. The study found that the labeled cells remained viable for 14 days after transplantation, but no viable cells were observed within the newly formed epithelium by day 90. However, the tissue-engineered graft partially restored the squamous corneal-like epithelium by day 30. Overall, this study provides a foundation for optimizing transplantation conditions and studying the mechanisms of corneal tissue restoration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Olivia Farrelly, Yoko Suzuki-Horiuchi, Megan Brewster, Paola Kuri, Sixia Huang, Gabriella Rice, Hyunjin Bae, Jianming Xu, Tzvete Dentchev, Vivian Lee, Panteleimon Rompolas
Summary: This study investigates the functional heterogeneity of resident stem cells in adult organs, focusing on the corneal limbus in live mice. By analyzing individual stem cells and their progeny, the researchers demonstrate how the compartmentalized organization of functionally diverse stem cell populations supports the maintenance and regeneration of an adult organ.
Article
Toxicology
Shengjie Hao, Zhijian Chen, Yuzhou Gu, Lu Chen, Feiyin Sheng, Yili Xu, Di Wu, Yu Han, Bing Lu, Shuying Chen, Wei Zhao, Houfa Yin, Xiaofeng Wang, S. Amer Riazuddin, Xiaoming Lou, Qiuli Fu, Ke Yao
Summary: This study systematically demonstrates that PM2.5 impairs LSPCs and their microenvironment. Moreover, we show that circadian misalignment of LSPCs may be a new mechanism by which PM2.5 induces corneal diseases.
PARTICLE AND FIBRE TOXICOLOGY
(2023)