background: because of the ability of proliferation, regeneration, conversion to differentiated cells and tissue producing, stem cell therapy has important clinical implications for treatment of different diseases. in this chapter we discuss different kinds of stem cells that have been used in treatment of neurologic diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, heart diseases, bone disease, kidney dise...

PURPOSE To examine the expression of stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA4) in the epithelium of the human ocular surface and characterize SSEA4(+) and SSEA4(-) limbal epithelial cells. METHODS SSEA4 expression in the human cornea and limbus was examined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. SSEA4(+) and SSEA4(-) cells were then separated by using magnetic beads. The phenotypes of these two...

background: dendritic cells (dcs) are the most potent stimulators of primary t cell responses and play a key role in immune reactions after stem cell transplantation. very little is known about the cord blood (cb) dendritic cells and their potential involvement in the low incidence and lower severity of acute graft-versus-host disease after cb transplantation.   objectives: the aim of this stud...

PURPOSE Simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) and cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) are proven clinical techniques for treating limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). However, the ideal size and number of the limbal explants required for transplantation has not been clearly elucidated. This in vitro study aimed to determine the optimal limbal explant size required for c...

PURPOSE To investigate the expression and role of the Wnt signaling pathway in human limbal stem cells (LSCs). METHODS Total RNA was isolated from the human limbus and central cornea. Limbal or cornea-specific transcripts were identified through quantitative real-time PCR. Protein expression of Wnt molecules was confirmed by immunohistochemistry on human ocular tissue. Activation of Wnt signa...

AIMS The aim of this work was to investigate different surgical options for the repair of the ocular surface, using various extensions of the procedure of limbal stem cell allotransplantation. METHODS/RESULTS Straightforward lamellar limbal transplantation was performed in one patient with contact lens induced limbal stem cell failure. A second patient with a neoplastic corneal lesion underwe...

Corneal epithelial stem cells are thought to be localized in the basal cell layer of the limbus. We developed a monoclonal antibody designated 4G10.3 that immunolocalized to limbal basal cells in rat corneas. Western blot analysis demonstrated that 4G10.3 reacted with a single band of 50,000 molecular weight in rat and rabbit corneal epithelium and 48,000-49,000 in human epithelium. Following e...

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...