BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE The limbus is enriched with the stem cells of corneal epithelium. Auto- and allograft limbal transplantations are effective in restoring the corneal epithelium and inhibiting inflammation and neovascularization. Preserved human amniotic membrane (AM) is now widely used as a substrate for ocular surface reconstruction. The combination of limbal and AM transplantation has b...

PURPOSE We have previously identified specific epithelial proteins with altered expression in human diabetic central corneas. Decreased hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-met) and increased proteinases were functionally implicated in the changes of these proteins in diabetes. The present study examined whether limbal stem cell marker patterns were altered in diabetic corneas and whether c-met...

The corneal epithelium plays a critical role in maintaining the cornea's transparency and its avascularity. Severe damage to the limbal region results in serious problems with the corneal surface such as persistent epithelial defects, conjunctivalisation with vascularisation, keratinisation, scarring, etc. with associated profound visual loss. In order to rescue such damaged ocular surfaces, co...

1. Letko E, Stechschulte SU, Kenyon KR, et al. Amniotic membrane inlay and overlay grafting for corneal epithelial defects and stromal ulcers. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001;119:659-663. 2. Ferreira De Souza R, Hofmann-Rummelt C, Kruse FE, Seitz B. Multilayer amniotic membrane transplantation for corneal ulcers not treatable by conventional therapy—a prospective study of the status of cornea and graft d...

Corneal and conjunctival epithelial stem cells are responsible for the homeostasis and regeneration of the ocular surface epithelium. Corneal epithelial stem cells reside in the basal region of the limbus, while the conjunctival forniceal region appears to be the site that is enriched in conjunctival stem cells. Ocular surface disease arising from limbal stem cell deficiency is characterised by...

Periostin is a non-structural matricellular protein. Little is known about periostin in human limbal stem cells (LSCs). This study was to explore the unique expression pattern and functional role of periostin in maintaining the properties of human LSCs. Fresh donor corneal tissues were used to make cryosections for evaluation of periostin expression on ex vivo tissues. Primary human limbal epit...

Human amniotic membrane is a standard substratum used to culture limbal epithelial stem cells for transplantation to patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. Various methods were developed to decellularize amniotic membrane, because denuded membrane is poorly immunogenic and better supports repopulation by dissociated limbal epithelial cells. Amniotic membrane denuding usually involves treatm...

Limbal epithelial stem cells play a key role in the maintenance and regulation of the corneal surface. Damage or destruction of these cells results in vascularisation and corneal opacity. Subsequent limbal stem cell transplantation requires an ex vivo expansion step and preserving cells in an undifferentiated state remains vital. In this report we seek to control the phenotype of limbal epithel...

The most difficult part in ocular surface reconstruction for total limbal stem cell deficiency is restoring a healthy and stable corneal epithelium. Recently, there has been a shift toward a cellular-based transplantation that eliminates the need for harvesting large amounts of limbal tissues from a living donor. The autologous oral epithelium can be used as a source for ocular surface reconstr...