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Su G, Guo X, Xu L, Jin B, Tan Y, Zhou X, Wang W, Li X, Wang S, Li G. Isolation and characterization of rabbit limbal niche cells. Exp Eye Res 2024; 241:109838. [PMID: 38395213 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Limbal niche cells (LNCs) are one of the most important supporting cells for corneal epithelial stem cells (CES), however, research on LNCs has been mostly limited to humans and rats previously. To expand the research work into the rabbit animal model, one of the most often used animals in stem cell study, this study was carried out for the in vitro isolation and identification of rabbit LNCs. Rabbit LNCs were isolated by collagenase A digestion method and single cells were obtained, the cells were then seeded on 5% Matrigel-coated plastic surface and cultured in modified embryonic stem cell medium (MESCM). Three biological replicates of the isolating and characterization were recorded from New Zealand White rabbits aged from 2.5 months to 5 months. LNC markers (VIM/CD90/CD105/SCF/PDGFRβ) were analyzed using tyramide signal amplification (TSA) staining, immunohistochemical staining (IHC), western blotting (WB), and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). TSA staining suggested that VIM was highly expressed in rabbit limbus stroma, which was confirmed by WB, and P63α was expressed in the basal limbus epithelium. Pan-CK and CK12 were highly expressed in the central corneal epithelium but lightly expressed in the limbal epithelium. The WB result indicated that PDGFRβ and VIM expressions in rabbit-LNCs P4 were higher than in P1 and P7. In addition, rabbit corneal epithelium highly expressed Paired Box 6 (PAX6) and Epidermal growth factor-like domain 6(EGFL6). For the three repeat experiments, the cell expansion activity of rabbit-LNC was highest at P4. Rabbit-LNCs were passaged from P0 to P7, and the number of cell doublings (NCD) of P4 for the three repeat experiments was 2.816, 2.737, and 2.849. qPCR showed that high mRNA expression levels of VIM, CD90, CD105, SCF, and PDGFRβ in rabbit-LNCs P4. In conclusion, rabbit-LNCs could be successfully isolated by the collagenase A digestion method as used in human tissue. There were similar characteristics between rabbit and human LNCs (VIM+/CD90+/CD105+/SCF+/PAX6+/PDGFRβ+).
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyu Su
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Xiaojie Guo
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Lingjuan Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Bihui Jin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Yongyao Tan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Xiao Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Shusheng Wang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology & Ophthalmology, 2000 Percival Stern Hall, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118-5698, USA
| | - Guigang Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China.
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Sun D, Shi WY, Dou SQ. Single-cell RNA sequencing in cornea research: Insights into limbal stem cells and their niche regulation. World J Stem Cells 2023; 15:466-475. [PMID: 37342216 PMCID: PMC10277966 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v15.i5.466] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The corneal epithelium is composed of stratified squamous epithelial cells on the outer surface of the eye, which acts as a protective barrier and is critical for clear and stable vision. Its continuous renewal or wound healing depends on the proliferation and differentiation of limbal stem cells (LSCs), a cell population that resides at the limbus in a highly regulated niche. Dysfunction of LSCs or their niche can cause limbal stem cell deficiency, a disease that is manifested by failed epithelial wound healing or even blindness. Nevertheless, compared to stem cells in other tissues, little is known about the LSCs and their niche. With the advent of single-cell RNA sequencing, our understanding of LSC characteristics and their microenvironment has grown considerably. In this review, we summarized the current findings from single-cell studies in the field of cornea research and focused on important advancements driven by this technology, including the heterogeneity of the LSC population, novel LSC markers and regulation of the LSC niche, which will provide a reference for clinical issues such as corneal epithelial wound healing, ocular surface reconstruction and interventions for related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Sun
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China
- Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Wei-Yun Shi
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China
- Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250000, Shandong Province, China
- School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Sheng-Qian Dou
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China
- Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China
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Ulusoy O, Aydın E, Ateş O, Hakgüder G, Özer E, Olguner M, Miraç Akgür F. Clues for the early loss of renal function in congenital hydronephrosis: Analysis of renal pelvis collagen ratio, diuresis renography and upper urinary tract morphology. J Pediatr Urol 2022; 19:197.e1-197.e7. [PMID: 36464563 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2022.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diagnosing real urinary obstruction and surgical decision making for the operative correction of urinary obstruction, are still problematic in congenital hydronephrosis (CH). Compliance of the renal pelvis is one of the important defense mechanisms of renal parenchyma against urinary obstruction. We observed early loss of function in some cases of CH with low and moderate anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis (APDRP). OBJECTIVE To evaluate structural properties of the renal pelvic tissue of patients with CH and the relation of these structural properties with renal function and Anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis. STUDY DESIGN Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) excised during UPJ obstruction operations from 2013 to 2019 were evaluated histopathologically. The patients were divided into the two groups according to initial renal function, i.e. group with initial preoperative differential renal function (DRF) less than 35% and group with initial DRF greater than 35%. The percentage of collagen to whole tissue area were analyzed using image processing program. The relationship between DRF and tissue collagen ratio, SFU and APDRP was evaluated. RESULTS There were 5 patients in the DRF <35% group and 16 patients in the DRF >35% group. However, APDRP's of the DRF <35% group were also significantly lower than the DRF >35% group. The collagen distribution in the muscle layer was more prominent in the DRF <35% group. Proportionally, percentage of collagen stained surface was significantly higher in DRF <35% group. DISCUSSION There are numerous histopathological studies evaluating the cause of UPJ obstruction. Besides these studies that are oriented to etiology, there are many studies comparing the histopathological changes at UPJ with surgical outcome and prognosis. In the present study, we found that renal pelvis collagen ratio was significantly increased in patients with lower APDRP and with severe renal function loss. This increase in the collagen content in the renal pelvis have been shown to affect the compliance negatively and decrease APDRP, which leads to a faster loss of renal function. Thus, pelvic structural changes accompanying UPJ obstruction may aggravate urinary obstructive process. CONCLUSION Increased renal pelvis collagen ratio negatively affects the expansion of the renal pelvis, which is one of the protective mechanisms of the renal parenchyma, and may be one of the triggering mechanisms of early loss of renal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oktay Ulusoy
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Efil Aydın
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Oğuz Ateş
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey; Division of Pediatric Urology, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gülce Hakgüder
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey; Division of Pediatric Urology, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Erdener Özer
- Department of Pathology, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Olguner
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey; Division of Pediatric Urology, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Feza Miraç Akgür
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey; Division of Pediatric Urology, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
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Progress of EGFL6 in angiogenesis and tumor development. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2022; 15:436-443. [PMID: 36507067 PMCID: PMC9729941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor (EGF) superfamily includes the protein 6 with an epidermal growth factor-like protein (EGFL6). EGFL6 has a signal peptide domain with an amino terminus and a MAM domain with a carboxy terminus. There are four whole EGF-like repeat regions and one partial EGF-like repeat region. Three of these regions include calcium-binding structures and an arg-gly-asp (RGD) integrin interaction motif. The epidermal growth factor-like (EGFL) and EGF domains have identical amino acid residues. Cell division, differentiation, mortality, cell adhesion, and migration are all affected by EGFL6. EGFL proteins are involved in a broad range of biological activities, making it important in tumor development and angiogenesis. We highlighted the latest development of EGFL6 research on tumor proliferation, invasion, and migration in this review.
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Tan Y, Chen D, Wang Y, Wang W, Xu L, Liu R, You C, Li G, Zhou H, Li D. Limbal Bio-engineered Tissue Employing 3D Nanofiber-Aerogel Scaffold to Facilitate LSCs Growth and Migration. Macromol Biosci 2022; 22:e2100441. [PMID: 35020979 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202100441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Constrained by the existing scaffold inability to mimic limbal niche, limbal bio-engineered tissue constructed in vitro is challenging to be widely used in clinical practice. Here, 3D nanofiber-aerogel scaffold was fabricated by employing thermal cross-linking electrospinned film Polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin (GEL) as the precursor. Benefiting from the cross-linked (160°C, vacuum) structure, the homogenized and lyophilized 3D nanofiber-aerogel scaffold with preferable mechanical strength was capable of refraining the volume collapse in humid vitro. Intriguingly, compared with traditional electrospinning scaffolds, our 3D nanofiber-aerogel scaffolds possessed enhanced water absorption (1100%-1300%), controllable aperture (50-100 μm) and excellent biocompatibility (optical density value, 0.953 ± 0.021). The well-matched aperture and nanostructure of the scaffolds with cells enabled the construction of limbal bio-engineered tissue. It is foreseen that the proposed general method could be extended to various aerogels, providing new opportunities for the development of novel limbal bio-engineered tissue. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyao Tan
- Y. Tan, W. Wang, L. Xu, R. Liu, C. You, G. Li, Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Dan Chen
- D. Chen, Y. Wang, H. Zhou, D. Li, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yunming Wang
- D. Chen, Y. Wang, H. Zhou, D. Li, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Y. Tan, W. Wang, L. Xu, R. Liu, C. You, G. Li, Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Lingjuan Xu
- Y. Tan, W. Wang, L. Xu, R. Liu, C. You, G. Li, Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Rong Liu
- Y. Tan, W. Wang, L. Xu, R. Liu, C. You, G. Li, Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Chunxiu You
- Y. Tan, W. Wang, L. Xu, R. Liu, C. You, G. Li, Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Guigang Li
- Y. Tan, W. Wang, L. Xu, R. Liu, C. You, G. Li, Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Huamin Zhou
- D. Chen, Y. Wang, H. Zhou, D. Li, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Dequn Li
- D. Chen, Y. Wang, H. Zhou, D. Li, State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
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Collin J, Queen R, Zerti D, Bojic S, Dorgau B, Moyse N, Molina MM, Yang C, Dey S, Reynolds G, Hussain R, Coxhead JM, Lisgo S, Henderson D, Joseph A, Rooney P, Ghosh S, Clarke L, Connon C, Haniffa M, Figueiredo F, Armstrong L, Lako M. A single cell atlas of human cornea that defines its development, limbal progenitor cells and their interactions with the immune cells. Ocul Surf 2021; 21:279-298. [PMID: 33865984 PMCID: PMC8343164 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2021.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Single cell (sc) analyses of key embryonic, fetal and adult stages were performed to generate a comprehensive single cell atlas of all the corneal and adjacent conjunctival cell types from development to adulthood. Methods Four human adult and seventeen embryonic and fetal corneas from 10 to 21 post conception week (PCW) specimens were dissociated to single cells and subjected to scRNA- and/or ATAC-Seq using the 10x Genomics platform. These were embedded using Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) and clustered using Seurat graph-based clustering. Cluster identification was performed based on marker gene expression, bioinformatic data mining and immunofluorescence (IF) analysis. RNA interference, IF, colony forming efficiency and clonal assays were performed on cultured limbal epithelial cells (LECs). Results scRNA-Seq analysis of 21,343 cells from four adult human corneas and adjacent conjunctivas revealed the presence of 21 cell clusters, representing the progenitor and differentiated cells in all layers of cornea and conjunctiva as well as immune cells, melanocytes, fibroblasts, and blood/lymphatic vessels. A small cell cluster with high expression of limbal progenitor cell (LPC) markers was identified and shown via pseudotime analysis to give rise to five other cell types representing all the subtypes of differentiated limbal and corneal epithelial cells. A novel putative LPCs surface marker, GPHA2, expressed on the surface of 0.41% ± 0.21 of the cultured LECs, was identified, based on predominant expression in the limbal crypts of adult and developing cornea and RNAi validation in cultured LECs. Combining scRNA- and ATAC-Seq analyses, we identified multiple upstream regulators for LPCs and demonstrated a close interaction between the immune cells and limbal progenitor cells. RNA-Seq analysis indicated the loss of GPHA2 expression and acquisition of proliferative limbal basal epithelial cell markers during ex vivo LEC expansion, independently of the culture method used. Extending the single cell analyses to keratoconus, we were able to reveal activation of collagenase in the corneal stroma and a reduced pool of limbal suprabasal cells as two key changes underlying the disease phenotype. Single cell RNA-Seq of 89,897 cells obtained from embryonic and fetal cornea indicated that during development, the conjunctival epithelium is the first to be specified from the ocular surface epithelium, followed by the corneal epithelium and the establishment of LPCs, which predate the formation of limbal niche by a few weeks. Conclusions Our scRNA-and ATAC-Seq data of developing and adult cornea in steady state and disease conditions provide a unique resource for defining genes/pathways that can lead to improvement in ex vivo LPCs expansion, stem cell differentiation methods and better understanding and treatment of ocular surface disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Collin
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Rachel Queen
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Darin Zerti
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Sanja Bojic
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Birthe Dorgau
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Nicky Moyse
- Newcastle Cellular Therapies Facility, Newcastle University and Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Marina Moya Molina
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Chunbo Yang
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Sunanda Dey
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Israel
| | - Gary Reynolds
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Rafiqul Hussain
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Jonathan M Coxhead
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Steven Lisgo
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Deborah Henderson
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Agatha Joseph
- NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue and Eye Services, Liverpool, UK
| | - Paul Rooney
- NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue and Eye Services, Liverpool, UK
| | - Saurabh Ghosh
- Sunderland Eye Infirmary, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Sunderland, UK
| | - Lucy Clarke
- UK Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary and Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Che Connon
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Muzlifah Haniffa
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Francisco Figueiredo
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK; UK Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary and Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Lyle Armstrong
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK.
| | - Majlinda Lako
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK.
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Nosrati H, Alizadeh Z, Nosrati A, Ashrafi-Dehkordi K, Banitalebi-Dehkordi M, Sanami S, Khodaei M. Stem cell-based therapeutic strategies for corneal epithelium regeneration. Tissue Cell 2020; 68:101470. [PMID: 33248403 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2020.101470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Any significant loss of vision or blindness caused by corneal damages is referred to as corneal blindness. Corneal blindness is the fourth most common cause of blindness worldwide, representing more than 5% of the total blind population. Currently, corneal transplantation is used to treat many corneal diseases. In some cases, implantation of artificial cornea (keratoprosthesis) is suggested after a patient has had a donor corneal transplant failure. The shortage of donors and the side effects of keratoprosthesis are limiting these approaches. Recently, researchers have been actively pursuing new approaches for corneal regeneration because of these limitations. Nowadays, tissue engineering of different corneal layers (epithelium, stroma, endothelium, or full thickness tissue) is a promising approach that has attracted a great deal of interest from researchers and focuses on regenerative strategies using different cell sources and biomaterials. Various sources of corneal and non-corneal stem cells have shown significant advantages for corneal epithelium regeneration applications. Pluripotent stem cells (embryonic stem cells and iPS cells), epithelial stem cells (derived from oral mucus, amniotic membrane, epidermis and hair follicle), mesenchymal stem cells (bone marrow, adipose-derived, amniotic membrane, placenta, umbilical cord), and neural crest origin stem cells (dental pulp stem cells) are the most promising sources in this regard. These cells could also be used in combination with natural or synthetic scaffolds to improve the efficacy of the therapeutic approach. As the ocular surface is exposed to external damage, the number of studies on regeneration of the corneal epithelium is rising. In this paper, we reviewed the stem cell-based strategies for corneal epithelium regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Nosrati
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
| | - Zohreh Alizadeh
- Endometrium and Endometriosis Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Ali Nosrati
- School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Korosh Ashrafi-Dehkordi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mehdi Banitalebi-Dehkordi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Samira Sanami
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mohammad Khodaei
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Golpayegan University of Technology, Golpayegan, Iran
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