title: [Regenerative medicine and stem cells of corneal epithelium].
abstract: Stem cells supply differentiated cells that compose the body organs. Stem cell research is increasing and their use in regenerative medicine is drawing a lot of attention. In ophthalmology, regenerative medicine of the corneal epithelium is already practiced by clinicians, and there is constant improvement in the culture methods. Research leading to the isolation of corneal epithelial stem cells, a kind of adult stem cell whose existence has been suggested, is done using various methods such as flow cytometry and selective culture methods. In this review, regenerative medicine of the corneal epithelium, stem cell isolation and culture methods are explained; and our new discoveries of stem cells' features such as their high adhesive ability is explained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. syokoo-tky@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yokoo
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering