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Corneal Limbal Stem Cell Niche

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Tissue-Specific Stem Cell Niche

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

Abstract

The cornea is not only essential for passing the light into the eye but also is responsible for more than two-thirds of the eye’s total refractive power. Corneal integrity and transparency is highly dependent on a healthy layer of continuously renewing stratified squamous epithelium located on its outer surface. The corneal epithelial stem/progenitor cells that replenish the corneal epithelium are located in a 1.5–2 mm wide area in between the cornea and sclera, known as the corneal scleral junction, or limbus. This stem cell niche has unique features that are critical to the function of the “limbal” stem cells. Understanding the biology of limbal stem cells has led to significant advancements in the treatment of patients with limbal stem cell deficiency, a group conditions in which the limbal stem cells and their niche are lost or damaged.

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Abbreviations

LSCD:

Limbal stem cell deficiency

CESCs:

Corneal epithelial stem cells

TA:

Transient amplifying

ECM:

Extracellular matrix

LSCs:

Limbal stem cells

TDCs:

Terminally differentiated cells

TACs:

Transient amplifying cells

PMCs:

Post-mitotic cells

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1855 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Mercede Majdi & Ali R. Djalilian

  2. Rosalind Franklin University, 3333 Green Bay Rd, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA

    Lisa Wasielewski

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  1. Mercede Majdi
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  2. Lisa Wasielewski
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  3. Ali R. Djalilian
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Correspondence to Ali R. Djalilian .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. 409 Lochaber Avenue, Ottowa ON, Ontario, Canada

    Kursad Turksen

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Majdi, M., Wasielewski, L., Djalilian, A.R. (2015). Corneal Limbal Stem Cell Niche. In: Turksen, K. (eds) Tissue-Specific Stem Cell Niche. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21705-5_4

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