OBJECTIVE To report phenotypic analysis of epithelia before and following cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) for eyes with limbal stem cell deficiency. METHODS Six patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (3 with alkali burns, 2 with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and 1 with pseudo-ocular cicatricial pemphigoid) were subjected to CLET and subsequent keratoplasty. Immunohistochemi...

PURPOSE To develop a mouse model of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) by topical administration of benzalkonium chloride (BAC). METHODS BAC solutions (0%-0.5%) were applied to the mouse ocular surface for 4 weeks. Corneal neovascularization, inflammation, and epithelial status were observed under slit-lamp microscope. The eyeball and ocular surface tissues were collected at 4 and 12 weeks an...

The article presents the modern treatment with stem cells in the reconstruction of ocular surface. The turnover of the stem cells, the location in the limbus areas, the importance of limbal stem cells presence, the clinical appearance of stem cell deficiency, investigations method for this illness and the management of stem cell deficiency (artificial lacrimal tear drops, mini scleral contact l...

AIMS To assess the potential of electrospun poly(lactide-co-glycolide) membranes to provide a biodegradable cell carrier system for limbal epithelial cells. MATERIAL & METHODS 50:50 poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds were spun, sterilized and seeded with primary rabbit limbal epithelial cells. Cells were cultured on the scaffolds for 2 weeks and then examined by confocal microscopy, cryosec...

Total bilateral Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency is a pathologic condition of the ocular surface due to loss corneal stem cells. Cultivated oral mucosa epithelial transplantation (COMET) only autologous successful treatment for this pathology in clinical application, although abnormal peripheric vascularization often occurs. Properly characterizing regenerated needed reliable follow-up. So far, univ...

PURPOSE To evaluate the expression patterns of neurotrophic factors (NTFs) and their receptors in the human cornea with the intention of exploring the role of NTFs in maintaining corneal epithelial stem cells in the limbus. METHODS Fresh human corneoscleral tissues were prepared for frozen sections. Immunofluorescent staining was performed with primary antibodies against six members of three ...

PURPOSE To characterize human limbal epithelial cells based on the expression levels of nuclear protein p63 and the nucleus-to-cytoplasm (N/C) ratio. METHODS Limbal, peripheral, and central corneal epithelia were separated from the stroma by Dispase II and subsequently were treated with trypsin to obtain single-cell suspensions. Cytospin smears of the cell suspensions were double immunostaine...

The cornea is essential for normal vision by maintaining transparency for light transmission. Limbal stem cells, which reside in the corneal periphery, contribute to the homeostasis of the corneal epithelium. Any damage or disease affecting the function of these cells may result in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). The condition may result in both severe pain and blindness. Transplantation of...