Cornea Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Cornea Department, Paris University, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP, F-75014, Paris, France.
Cornea Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Prog Retin Eye Res. 2021 Nov;85:100956. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100956. Epub 2021 Mar 4.
The corneal epithelium is continuously renewed by limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSCs), a cell population harbored in a highly regulated niche located at the limbus. Dysfunction and/or loss of LSCs and their niche cause limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), a disease that is marked by invasion of conjunctival epithelium into the cornea and results in failure of epithelial wound healing. Corneal opacity, pain, loss of vision, and blindness are the consequences of LSCD. Successful treatment of LSCD depends on accurate diagnosis and staging of the disease and requires restoration of functional LSCs and their niche. This review highlights the major advances in the identification of potential LSC biomarkers and components of the LSC niche, understanding of LSC regulation, methods and regulatory standards in bioengineering of LSCs, and diagnosis and staging of LSCD. Overall, this review presents key points for researchers and clinicians alike to consider in deepening the understanding of LSC biology and improving LSCD therapies.
角膜上皮由角膜缘干细胞/祖细胞（LSCs）不断更新，LSCs 是一种位于角膜缘的高度受调控的龛位中存在的细胞群体。LSCs 及其龛位的功能障碍和/或丧失会导致角膜缘干细胞缺乏症（LSCD），这种疾病的特征是结膜上皮侵入角膜，导致上皮伤口愈合失败。角膜混浊、疼痛、视力丧失和失明是 LSCD 的后果。LSCD 的成功治疗取决于对疾病的准确诊断和分期，需要恢复功能性 LSCs 及其龛位。这篇综述强调了鉴定潜在 LSC 生物标志物和 LSC 龛位成分、理解 LSC 调控、LSCs 生物工程方法和调控标准以及 LSCD 诊断和分期方面的主要进展。总的来说，这篇综述为研究人员和临床医生提供了要点，以加深对 LSC 生物学的理解并改善 LSCD 的治疗方法。
