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Li S, Sun H, Chen L, Fu Y. Targeting limbal epithelial stem cells: master conductors of corneal epithelial regeneration from the bench to multilevel theranostics. J Transl Med 2024; 22:794. [PMID: 39198892 PMCID: PMC11350997 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05603-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye and plays an essential role in our visual system. Limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs), which are localized to a highly regulated limbal niche, are the master conductors of corneal epithelial regeneration. Damage to LESCs and their niche may result in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), a disease confused ophthalmologists so many years and can lead to corneal conjunctivalization, neovascularization, and even blindness. How to restore the LESCs function is the hot topic for ocular scientists and clinicians around the world. This review introduced LESCs and the niche microenvironment, outlined various techniques for isolating and culturing LESCs used in LSCD research, presented common diseases that cause LSCD, and provided a comprehensive overview of both the diagnosis and multiple treatments for LSCD from basic research to clinical therapies, especially the emerging cell therapies based on various stem cell sources. In addition, we also innovatively concluded the latest strategies in recent years, including exogenous drugs, tissue engineering, nanotechnology, exosome and gene therapy, as well as the ongoing clinical trials for treating LSCD in recent five years. Finally, we highlighted challenges from bench to bedside in LSCD and discussed cutting-edge areas in LSCD therapeutic research. We hope that this review could pave the way for future research and translation on treating LSCD, a crucial step in the field of ocular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiding Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Liangbo Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Yao Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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Ying PX, Fu M, Huang C, Li ZH, Mao QY, Fu S, Jia XH, Cao YC, Hong LB, Cai LY, Guo X, Liu RB, Meng FK, Yi GG. Profile of biological characterizations and clinical application of corneal stem/progenitor cells. World J Stem Cells 2022; 14:777-797. [PMID: 36483848 PMCID: PMC9724387 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v14.i11.777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal stem/progenitor cells are typical adult stem/progenitor cells. The human cornea covers the front of the eyeball, which protects the eye from the outside environment while allowing vision. The location and function demand the cornea to maintain its transparency and to continuously renew its epithelial surface by replacing injured or aged cells through a rapid turnover process in which corneal stem/progenitor cells play an important role. Corneal stem/progenitor cells include mainly corneal epithelial stem cells, corneal endothelial cell progenitors and corneal stromal stem cells. Since the discovery of corneal epithelial stem cells (also known as limbal stem cells) in 1971, an increasing number of markers for corneal stem/progenitor cells have been proposed, but there is no consensus regarding the definitive markers for them. Therefore, the identification, isolation and cultivation of these cells remain challenging without a unified approach. In this review, we systematically introduce the profile of biological characterizations, such as anatomy, characteristics, isolation, cultivation and molecular markers, and clinical applications of the three categories of corneal stem/progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Xi Ying
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Chang Huang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200030, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia, Fudan University, Shanghai 200030, China
- Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Zhi-Hong Li
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Shock and Microcirculation, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510550, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qing-Yi Mao
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Sheng Fu
- Hengyang Medical School, The University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China
| | - Xu-Hui Jia
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yu-Chen Cao
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Li-Bing Hong
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Li-Yang Cai
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xi Guo
- Medical College of Rehabilitation, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ru-Bing Liu
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Fan-ke Meng
- Emergency Department, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Guo-Guo Yi
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, Guangdong Province, China
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Fattah IOA, Madani GA, El-Din WAN. Topical onion juice mitigates the morphological alterations of the cornea in the aged male rats. Anat Cell Biol 2021; 54:375-386. [PMID: 34253691 PMCID: PMC8493016 DOI: 10.5115/acb.21.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with structural and functional changes of the cornea. Fresh onion juice contains phenolic compounds and flavonoids that may provide an anti-aging effect. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of the onion juice to ameliorate these aging changes. Rats were grouped as adult and aged groups. Rats of both groups received eye drops of diluted onion juice in their right eyes every 8 hours for 12 weeks, while the left ones were served as control eyes. The corneas of both eyes underwent histopathological, immunohistochemical and morphometric assessments, in addition to measuring their intraocular pressure (IOP). The aged group exhibited a significantly elevated IOP, decreased tear secretion, degenerated corneal epithelium and endothelium, surface erosions and stromal edema with irregular collagen fibers. Administration of onion juice led to lowering of IOP, significant increase in tearing, restoration of most of epithelial, endothelial and stromal integrity, and increased epithelial, keratocystic and endothelial cell densities. Immunohistochemically, the epithelium and endothelium revealed positive immune reactions for both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and paired box protein-6 (PAX6) in the control and onion-treated corneas of the adult group, while these immune reactions were negative in the untreated aged ones. Onion drops in aged corneas showed a positive immune reaction for EFGR and PAX6 involving the epithelial and endothelial layers. In conclusion, topical onion juice improves corneal aging changes through its direct effect, and indirectly through lowering IOP and enhancing tear secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam Omar Abdel Fattah
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Gisma Ahmed Madani
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, The National University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Wael Amin Nasr El-Din
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.,Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
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