Daniels Julie T, Harris Anna R, Mason Chris
Cells for Sight Transplantation and Research Programme, Ocular Repair and Regeneration Biology Unit, Division of Pathology, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL.
Stem Cell Rev. 2006;2(3):247-54. doi: 10.1007/s12015-006-0053-4.
The cornea on the front surface of the eye provides our window to the world. Maintenance of corneal transparency is dependent on the integrity and functionality of the outermost corneal epithelium which itself is maintained throughout life by a population of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESC). If this adult stem cell population is depleted by injury or disease, the transparency of the cornea and therefore vision is threatened. LESC deficiency results in corneal opacification, inflammation, vascularization, and severe discomfort. Cultured LESC therapy is one of only several examples of the successful use of an adult stem cell therapy in patients. Hence, the ready accessibility of a transparent stem cell niche and the clinical precedence for use of stem cell therapy make the cornea a unique and excellent model for the study of adult stem cells in health and disease. This review will discuss our current understanding of LESC biology, pathology, and therapeutic application.
眼睛前表面的角膜为我们提供了一扇看向世界的窗口。角膜透明度的维持依赖于最外层角膜上皮的完整性和功能，而角膜上皮本身在整个生命过程中由一群角膜缘上皮干细胞（LESC）维持。如果这群成体干细胞因损伤或疾病而耗竭，角膜的透明度以及视力都会受到威胁。LESC缺乏会导致角膜混浊、炎症、血管化和严重不适。培养的LESC疗法是在患者中成功使用成体干细胞疗法的少数几个例子之一。因此，透明干细胞生态位易于获取，且有干细胞疗法的临床先例，这使得角膜成为研究健康和疾病状态下成体干细胞的独特且优秀的模型。本综述将讨论我们目前对LESC生物学、病理学和治疗应用的理解。
