Article
Cell Biology
Naresh Polisetti, Guenther Schlunck, Thomas Reinhard
Summary: The expression pattern of PAX6 in limbal niche cells, such as mesenchymal stromal cells and melanocytes, is not well understood. This study shows that PAX6 is mainly expressed in limbal epithelial cells and plays a crucial role in maintaining their identity and fate.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mohammad Soleimani, Kasra Cheraqpour, Raghuram Koganti, Seyed Mahbod Baharnoori, Ali R. Djalilian
Summary: The corneal epithelium consists of nonkeratinized stratified squamous cells, which undergo a significant turnover rate. The limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) located in the basal epithelial layer of the limbus play a crucial role in maintaining corneal homeostasis. The limbal stem cell niche (LSCN), composed of various cells, extracellular matrix, and signaling molecules, provides the microenvironment necessary for the proper functioning of LESCs. Damage to the LSCN can lead to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) and conjunctivalization of the cornea. This review summarizes the basics of LSCN and discusses current and emerging bioengineering strategies for LSCN restoration to combat LSCD.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2023)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Abdelrahman M. Elhusseiny, Mohammad Soleimani, Taher K. Eleiwa, Reem H. ElSheikh, Charles R. Frank, Morteza Naderan, Ghasem Yazdanpanah, Mark Rosenblatt, Ali R. Djalilian
Summary: The regeneration of corneal epithelium relies on limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) residing in the limbus, which are regulated by the limbal niche. Disruption to LESCs or their niche can lead to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), impacting corneal and visual function.
STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Susan Eliazer, Xuefeng Sun, Emilie Barruet, Andrew S. Brack
Summary: The muscle fiber maintains a continuum of quiescent states through a gradient of Notch ligand, Dll4, which is captured by QSCs. The abundance of Dll4 captured by the QSC correlates with the protein levels of the stem cell identity marker, Pax7. Niche-specific loss of Dll4 decreases QSC diversity and shifts the continuum to cell states that are biased toward more proliferative and committed fates.
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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Clemence Bonnet, Sheyla Gonzalez, Sophie X. Deng, Jie J. Zheng
Summary: This study explores the potential of using Wnt activation to treat limbal stem cell deficiency. The results show that Wnt activation can promote the proliferation of residual LSCs and restore their phenotype.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Di Sun, Wei-Yun Shi, Sheng-Qian Dou
Summary: The corneal epithelium, composed of stratified squamous epithelial cells, is crucial for maintaining clear and stable vision. Limbal stem cells (LSCs), located in a regulated niche at the limbus, play a key role in the continuous renewal and wound healing of the corneal epithelium. Dysfunction of LSCs or their niche can lead to limbal stem cell deficiency and vision impairment. Advances in single-cell RNA sequencing have provided valuable insights into LSC characteristics and their microenvironment. This review summarizes the current understanding of LSC heterogeneity, novel LSC markers, and regulation of the LSC niche, with implications for corneal wound healing, ocular surface reconstruction, and related diseases.
WORLD JOURNAL OF STEM CELLS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Margarita Calonge, Teresa Nieto-Miguel, Ana de la Mata, Sara Galindo, Jose M. Herreras, Marina Lopez-Paniagua
Summary: Corneal failure, particularly due to limbal stem cell deficiency, is a major cause of blindness. Advances in cell-based therapy and regenerative medicine show promise in treating this condition, with efforts focused on developing cell-based products and understanding their mechanisms in the eye. Coordination between basic research and clinical projects is crucial to incorporate cell-based therapies into the treatment of corneal blindness, which is one of the most successful examples of global regenerative medicine.
Article
Ophthalmology
Ursula Schloetzer-Schrehardt, Lorenz Latta, Andreas Giessl, Matthias Zenkel, Fabian N. Fries, Barbara Kaesmann-Kellner, Friedrich E. Kruse, Berthold Seitz
Summary: The study investigated the morphologic and molecular alterations of the limbal epithelial stem cell niche in human congenital aniridia, revealing marked changes in the structure and composition of the limbal region, which may be the cause of aniridia-associated keratopathy.
Review
Cell Biology
Molly E. Heft Neal, J. Chad Brenner, Mark E. P. Prince, Steven B. Chinn
Summary: Cancer stem cells play a crucial role in head and neck cancer, affecting tumor heterogeneity, treatment resistance, metastasis, and recurrence. Recent evidence shows that the tumor microenvironment plays a key role in maintaining the cancer stem cell niche and promoting their plasticity.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ying-Yi Chen, Yi-Chen Sun, Chia-Ying Tsai, Hsiao-Sang Chu, Jo-Hsuan Wu, Huai-Wen Chang, Wei-Li Chen
Summary: SD-OCT technology was used to examine the microstructure of the POV in ocular surface disorders with satisfactory results. It was able to detect subclinical limbal pathologies and provided useful information that traditional slit-lamp biomicroscopy could not.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Naresh Polisetti, Gottfried Martin, Eva Ulrich, Mateusz Glegola, Ursula Schloetzer-Schrehardt, Guenther Schlunck, Thomas Reinhard
Summary: Organ culture storage techniques for corneoscleral limbal (CSL) tissue have been found to have detrimental effects on the limbal stem cell niche, potentially limiting their use in the treatment of LSCD and research purposes. However, a decrease in donor-derived Langerhans cells may be associated with better clinical outcomes. Therefore, improving the storage methods to preserve the limbal stem cell properties is necessary.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Naresh Polisetti, Benjamin Roschinski, Ursula Schlotzer-Schrehardt, Philip Maier, Gunther Schlunck, Thomas Reinhard
Summary: This study evaluated the decellularized human limbus as a biomimetic scaffold for the transplantation of LEPCs, showing good biocompatibility and intrastromal invasion properties, making it a promising option for treating LSCD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Cadenas-Martin, Francisco Arnalich-Montiel, Maria P. De Miguel
Summary: This study developed a protocol for deriving human limbal stem cells (LSCs) from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) that is compatible with the standard carrier human amniotic membrane. The best protocol achieved optimal differentiation efficiency and will benefit patients with LSC deficiency, aiding in the restoration of vision.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Clemence Bonnet, JoAnn S. Roberts, Sophie X. Deng
Summary: The function of limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSCs) is critical to maintain corneal epithelial homeostasis. External insults and intrinsic defects can be deleterious to LSCs, resulting in limbal stem cell dysfunction or deficiency (LSCD). Ocular imaging modalities and molecular markers can now help standardize diagnosis criteria and stage disease severity, to evaluate and compare emerging customized therapies.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2021)