Mei Hua, Gonzalez Sheyla, Deng Sophie X
Jules Stein Eye Institute, 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
J Funct Biomater. 2012 Dec 10;3(4):879-94. doi: 10.3390/jfb3040879.
Extracellular matrix plays an important role in stem cell niche which maintains the undifferentiated stem cell phenotype. Human corneal epithelial stem cells are presumed to reside mainly at the limbal basal epithelium. Efforts have been made to characterize different components of the extracellular matrix that are preferentially expressed at the limbus. Mounting evidence from experimental data suggest that these components are part of the stem cell niche and play a role in the homeostasis of limbal stem cells. The extracellular matrix provides a mechanical and structural support as well as regulates cellular functions such as adhesion, migration, proliferation, self-renewal and differentiation. Optimization of the extracellular matrix components might be able to recreate an ex vivo stem cell niche to expand limbal stem cells.
细胞外基质在干细胞微环境中起着重要作用,维持未分化干细胞表型。人角膜上皮干细胞推测主要位于角膜缘基底上皮。人们已努力去表征在角膜缘优先表达的细胞外基质的不同成分。来自实验数据的越来越多证据表明,这些成分是干细胞微环境的一部分,并在角膜缘干细胞的稳态中发挥作用。细胞外基质提供机械和结构支持,以及调节诸如黏附、迁移、增殖、自我更新和分化等细胞功能。优化细胞外基质成分或许能够重建体外干细胞微环境以扩增角膜缘干细胞。