Limbal epithelial stem cell therapy.
Restoring vision in patients suffering from previously intractable blinding ocular surface disease has become possible with the advent of techniques for ex vivo expansion and transplantation of limbal epithelial stem cells onto the cornea. This approach represents one of the few adult stem cell therapies presently in the clinic. This article highlights several key research areas where progress will be made to specifically understand the biology and therapeutic potential of limbal epithelial stem cells, which may have an applicability to the understanding of other adult stem cell populations.
Daniels
Julie T
JT
UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Cells for Sight Transplantation and Research Programme, Ocular Repair and Regeneration Biology Unit, Division of Pathology, London, EC1V 9EL, UK. j.daniels@ucl.ac.uk
Notara
Maria
M
Shortt
Alex J
AJ
Secker
Genevieve
G
Harris
Anna
A
Tuft
Stephen J
SJ
D000818:Animals; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology; D012590:Sclera / Q000637:transplantation; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000601:surgery