Grueterich Martin, Espana Edgar M, Tseng Scheffer C G
Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
Surv Ophthalmol. 2003 Nov-Dec;48(6):631-46. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2003.08.003.
Identification, maintenance, and expansion of stem cells for subsequent transplantation has become a new strategy for treating many diseases in most medical subspecialties. The stem cells of the corneal epithelium are located in the limbal basal layer and are the ultimate source for constant corneal epithelial renewal. Like those in other tissues, limbal stem cells are supported by a unique stromal microenvironment called the stem cell niche, which consists of certain extracellular matrix components, cell membrane-associated molecules, and cytokine dialogues. Destructive loss of limbal stem cells or dysfunction of their stromal environment renders many corneas with a clinical entity called limbal stem cell deficiency, which is characterized by variable extents of conjunctival ingrowth depending on the severity of limbal damage. A new strategy of treating limbal stem cell deficiency is to transplant a bio-engineered graft by expanding limbal epithelial stem cells ex vivo on amniotic membrane. This review summarizes the published literature data collectively explaining how amniotic membrane is an ideal biological substrate that can help maintain and support the expansion of limbal epithelial stem cells.
识别、维持并扩增干细胞以便后续移植，已成为大多数医学亚专业治疗多种疾病的新策略。角膜上皮干细胞位于角膜缘基底细胞层，是角膜上皮持续更新的最终来源。与其他组织中的干细胞一样，角膜缘干细胞由一种独特的基质微环境（称为干细胞龛）支持，该微环境由某些细胞外基质成分、细胞膜相关分子和细胞因子相互作用组成。角膜缘干细胞的破坏性丧失或其基质环境功能障碍会使许多角膜出现一种称为角膜缘干细胞缺乏的临床病症，其特征是根据角膜缘损伤的严重程度，结膜向内生长的程度各不相同。治疗角膜缘干细胞缺乏的一种新策略是通过在羊膜上体外扩增角膜缘上皮干细胞来移植生物工程移植物。本综述总结了已发表的文献数据，共同解释了羊膜如何成为一种理想的生物基质，有助于维持和支持角膜缘上皮干细胞的扩增。
