Transplant Services Foundation, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Ophthalmic Res. 2013;49(3):115-21. doi: 10.1159/000345257. Epub 2012 Dec 18.
The integrity and normal function of the corneal epithelium are essential for maintaining the cornea's transparency and vision. The existence of a cell population with progenitor characteristics in the limbus maintains a dynamic of constant epithelial repair and renewal. Currently, cell-based therapies for bio-replacement, such as cultured limbal epithelial transplantation and cultured oral mucosal epithelial transplantation, present very encouraging clinical results for treating limbal stem cell deficiencies. Another emerging therapeutic strategy consists of obtaining and implementing human progenitor cells of different origins using tissue engineering methods. The development of cell-based therapies using stem cells, such as human adult mesenchymal stromal cells, represents a significant breakthrough in the treatment of certain eye diseases and also offers a more rational, less invasive and more physiological approach to ocular surface regeneration.
角膜上皮的完整性和正常功能对于维持角膜的透明性和视力至关重要。在角膜缘存在具有祖细胞特征的细胞群体，维持着角膜上皮的持续修复和更新。目前，基于细胞的生物替代疗法，如培养的角膜缘上皮移植和培养的口腔黏膜上皮移植，为治疗角膜缘干细胞缺陷提供了非常有希望的临床结果。另一种新兴的治疗策略包括使用组织工程方法获得和实施不同来源的人祖细胞。使用干细胞（如人成体间充质基质细胞）的基于细胞的疗法的发展，代表了治疗某些眼部疾病的重大突破，也为眼表面再生提供了一种更合理、更少侵入性和更生理性的方法。
