Human limbal epithelial stem cell regulation, bioengineering and function

Clémence Bonnet; Sheyla González; JoAnn S Roberts; Sarah Y T Robertson; Maxime Ruiz; Jie Zheng; Sophie X Deng

doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100956

Human limbal epithelial stem cell regulation, bioengineering and function

Prog Retin Eye Res. 2021 Nov:85:100956. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100956. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Authors

Clémence Bonnet¹, Sheyla González², JoAnn S Roberts², Sarah Y T Robertson², Maxime Ruiz², Jie Zheng³, Sophie X Deng⁴

Affiliations

¹ Cornea Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Cornea Department, Paris University, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP, F-75014, Paris, France.
² Cornea Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
³ Basic Science Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
⁴ Cornea Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. Electronic address: deng@jsei.ucla.edu.

Abstract

The corneal epithelium is continuously renewed by limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSCs), a cell population harbored in a highly regulated niche located at the limbus. Dysfunction and/or loss of LSCs and their niche cause limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), a disease that is marked by invasion of conjunctival epithelium into the cornea and results in failure of epithelial wound healing. Corneal opacity, pain, loss of vision, and blindness are the consequences of LSCD. Successful treatment of LSCD depends on accurate diagnosis and staging of the disease and requires restoration of functional LSCs and their niche. This review highlights the major advances in the identification of potential LSC biomarkers and components of the LSC niche, understanding of LSC regulation, methods and regulatory standards in bioengineering of LSCs, and diagnosis and staging of LSCD. Overall, this review presents key points for researchers and clinicians alike to consider in deepening the understanding of LSC biology and improving LSCD therapies.

Keywords: Anterior segment coherence tomography; Cell therapy; In vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy; Limbal stem cell; Limbal stem cell deficiency; Notch signaling pathway; Small molecules; Wnt signaling pathway.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Bioengineering
Corneal Diseases* / therapy
Epithelium, Corneal*
Humans
Limbus Corneae*
Stem Cells

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding