title: Existence of slow-cycling limbal epithelial basal cells that can be preferentially stimulated to proliferate: implications on epithelial stem cells.
abstract: Despite the obvious importance of epithelial stem cells in tissue homeostasis and tumorigenesis, little is known about their specific location or biological characteristics. Using 3H-thymidine labeling, we have identified a subpopulation of corneal epithelial basal cells, located in the peripheral cornea in a region called limbus, that are normally slow cycling, but can be stimulated to proliferate in response to wounding and to a tumor promotor, TPA. No such cells can be detected in the central corneal epithelium, suggesting that corneal epithelial stem cells are located in the limbus. A comparison of various types of epithelial stem cells revealed a common set of features, including their preferred location, pigment protection, and growth properties, which presumably play a crucial role in epithelial stem cell function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cotsarelis
authors.forename: S Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lavker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D013936:Thymidine