Ruiz M, González S, Bonnet C, Deng SX. Extracellular
miR-6723-5p could serve as a biomarker of limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cell population.
Biomark Res 2022;
10:36. [PMID:
35642012 PMCID:
PMC9153202 DOI:
10.1186/s40364-022-00384-2]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Dysfunction or loss of limbal stem cells can result in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), a disease that cause corneal opacity, pain, and loss of vision. Cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) can be used to restore stem cell niche homeostasis and replenish the progenitor pool. Transplantation has been reported with high success rate, but there is an unmet need of prognostic markers that correlate with clinical outcomes. To date, the progenitor content in the graft is the only parameter that has been retrospectively linked to success.
METHODS
In this study, we investigate extracellular micro RNAs (miRNAs) associated with stem/progenitor cells in cultivated limbal epithelial cells (cLECs). Using micro RNA sequencing and linear regression modelling, we identify a miRNA signature in cultures containing high proportion of stem/progenitor cells. We then develop a robust RNA extraction workflow from culture media to confirm a positive miRNA correlation with stem/progenitor cell proportion.
RESULTS
miR-6723-5p is associated with cultures containing high proportion of stem/progenitor cells, and is detected in the basal layer of corneal epithelium.
CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that miR-6723-5p could potentially serve as a stem/progenitor cell marker in cLECs.
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