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Adult Human Corneal Epithelial Stem Cells

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Book cover Adult Stem Cells

Part of the book series: Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine ((STEMCELL))

Abstract

The cornea’s accessibility and visualization with minimally invasive techniques renders it an ideal organ to study SC and their differentiated progeny. The limbus houses, nurtures, and protects a rare population of epithelial stem cells which play a critical role in the long-term maintenance of the cornea. Despite the absence of an exclusive marker that identifies these cells with pinpoint accuracy, significant advances have been made towards identifying, isolating, cultivating, and transplanting limbal epithelial stem cells (LESC) for corneal reconstruction. However, determining the signals, factors, and mechanisms that maintain their “stemness” in vitro and in situ has proven major obstacles in progressing the field. Knowledge of the key molecules that comprise the niche and the signaling pathways and genetic programs that dictate LESC quiescence and differentiation is essential to improve current and develop effective next-generation cell-based therapies. This chapter will highlight limitations and controversies in the field and summarize the key concepts and experimental paradigms that have inspired researchers to develop cell therapies for patients with blinding corneal disease.

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Abbreviations

BM:

Basement membrane

CK:

Cytokeratins

ECM:

Extracellular membrane

ESC:

Epithelial stem cells

FACS:

Fluorescent-activated cell sorting

HAM:

Human amniotic membrane

iPSC:

Induced pluripotent stem cells

LESC:

Limbal epithelial stem cells

LSCD:

Limbal stem cell deficiency

SC:

Stem cells

SP:

Side population

TAC:

Transient amplifying cells

TDC:

Terminally differentiated cells

VN:

Vitronectin

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Acknowledgments

The author thanks Associate Professor Damien Harkin (Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia) for providing an image of human limbal epithelial cells in coculture with murine 3T3 fibroblasts and Associate Professor Trevor Sherwin (Department of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, New Zealand) for providing an image of human limbal epithelial cells forming spheres in culture.

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  1. Inflammation and Infection Research Centre and Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Nick Di Girolamo

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  1. Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Kursad Turksen

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Di Girolamo, N. (2014). Adult Human Corneal Epithelial Stem Cells. In: Turksen, K. (eds) Adult Stem Cells. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9569-7_7

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