The cornea is a transparent tissue that serves as the main refractive element of the eye ball.Limbal epithelial stem cells(LESCs),residing in the basal epithelial layer of the Palisades of Vogt located in the corneal ...The cornea is a transparent tissue that serves as the main refractive element of the eye ball.Limbal epithelial stem cells(LESCs),residing in the basal epithelial layer of the Palisades of Vogt located in the corneal limbus between cornea and scleral,are believed to be crucial for the continuous turnover of the corneal epithelium.The proliferation,migration,and differentiation of the LESCs are modulated by unique physical and chemical futures contained within the microenvironment known as the limbal niche.This niche,composed of nerve terminals,cells,extracellular matrix,vasculature,and signaling molecules,is the home for processes such as proliferation,migration and differentiation.Corneal nerve terminals possess special anatomical structures in the limbal region and basal epithelial cells,and they demonstrate pivotal biological effects in the regulation of the LESC function and corneal epithelium homeostasis.Biological molecules such as neuropeptides,neurotransmitters,and neurotrophic factors play a crucial role in modulating the LESCs phenotype responsible for corneal epithelium homeostasis.This paper will review recent studies on how these nerve derived molecules function in this process and provide clear orientations for future research.展开更多
Cornea serves as the partial front barrier and major light reflection organ of the eye.The integrity of corneal surface is essential for ocular function.Injuries or congenital diseases could significantly destruct the...Cornea serves as the partial front barrier and major light reflection organ of the eye.The integrity of corneal surface is essential for ocular function.Injuries or congenital diseases could significantly destruct the homeostasis of the ocular surface,especially the microenvironment of limbal epithelial stem cells(LESCs),and will eventually cause dysfunction of corneal regeneration and diminish of LESCs.The loss of LESCs by different reasons are named limbal stem cell deficiency(LSCD),which is one of the leading cause of vision loss worldwide.To restore the corneal surface,LESC transplantation in the form of tissue or cell cultures is currently a viable and promising method to treat LSCD.In this review,we aim to introduce the characters and niche of LESCs,and discuss different aspects of its application in cornea surface reconstruction.展开更多
文摘The cornea is a transparent tissue that serves as the main refractive element of the eye ball.Limbal epithelial stem cells(LESCs),residing in the basal epithelial layer of the Palisades of Vogt located in the corneal limbus between cornea and scleral,are believed to be crucial for the continuous turnover of the corneal epithelium.The proliferation,migration,and differentiation of the LESCs are modulated by unique physical and chemical futures contained within the microenvironment known as the limbal niche.This niche,composed of nerve terminals,cells,extracellular matrix,vasculature,and signaling molecules,is the home for processes such as proliferation,migration and differentiation.Corneal nerve terminals possess special anatomical structures in the limbal region and basal epithelial cells,and they demonstrate pivotal biological effects in the regulation of the LESC function and corneal epithelium homeostasis.Biological molecules such as neuropeptides,neurotransmitters,and neurotrophic factors play a crucial role in modulating the LESCs phenotype responsible for corneal epithelium homeostasis.This paper will review recent studies on how these nerve derived molecules function in this process and provide clear orientations for future research.
基金This research is funded by Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province(No.2015B020226003).
文摘Cornea serves as the partial front barrier and major light reflection organ of the eye.The integrity of corneal surface is essential for ocular function.Injuries or congenital diseases could significantly destruct the homeostasis of the ocular surface,especially the microenvironment of limbal epithelial stem cells(LESCs),and will eventually cause dysfunction of corneal regeneration and diminish of LESCs.The loss of LESCs by different reasons are named limbal stem cell deficiency(LSCD),which is one of the leading cause of vision loss worldwide.To restore the corneal surface,LESC transplantation in the form of tissue or cell cultures is currently a viable and promising method to treat LSCD.In this review,we aim to introduce the characters and niche of LESCs,and discuss different aspects of its application in cornea surface reconstruction.
