角膜缘干细胞研究新进展

Latest progresses of limbal stem cell

摘要:

位于角膜最外层的角膜上皮细胞，正常损耗或创伤后，由角膜缘干细胞不断自我更新补充。当损伤等致角膜缘干细胞缺乏时，则会导致角膜溃疡、新生血管、混浊等角膜病变而影响视力。目前治疗这些角膜疾病的重要方式之一为移植体外培养的角膜缘干细胞。本文将从角膜缘干细胞的定位、体外培养、新细胞来源等方面进行综述。

Abstract:

The corneal epithelial cells are the outermost layer of the cornea. When they are turnover or trauma, the corneal epithelial cells are supplemented by continuous self-renewal of stem cells located in the basal epithelium at the corneoscleral limbus. If limbal stem cells are deficient(LSCD), this balance would be broken, resulting in corneal diseases. Currently, transplantation of cultured limbal stem cells is one of the best curative option of reconstruction of the ocular surface. This article reviews the recent progress on identification, different sources of stem cells, and expansion of limbal stem cells.