title: Potential Role of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (IPSCs) for Cell-Based Therapy of the Ocular Surface.
abstract: The integrity and normal function of the corneal epithelium are crucial for maintaining the cornea's transparency and vision. The existence of a cell population with progenitor characteristics in the limbus maintains a dynamic of constant epithelial repair and renewal. Currently, cell-based therapies for bio replacement-cultured limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) and cultured oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (COMET)-present very encouraging clinical results for treating limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) and restoring vision. Another emerging therapeutic approach consists of obtaining and implementing human progenitor cells of different origins in association with tissue engineering methods. The development of cell-based therapies using stem cells, such as human adult mesenchymal or induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs), represent a significant breakthrough in the treatment of certain eye diseases, offering a more rational, less invasive, and better physiological treatment option in regenerative medicine for the ocular surface. This review will focus on the main concepts of cell-based therapies for the ocular surface and the future use of IPSCs to treat LSCD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Calle Sabino de Arana 1 (2nd floor), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain. rcasaroli@ub.edu.|CellTec-UB and the Clinic Foundation for Biomedical Research (FCRB), University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 643, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain. rcasaroli@ub.edu.|Tissue Bank of BST (GenCat), Calle Dr Antoni Pujadas 42, SSMM Sant Joan de Déu, Edifici Pujadas, E-08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain. rcasaroli@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Ricardo P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Casaroli-Marano
authors.affiliation: CellTec-UB and the Clinic Foundation for Biomedical Research (FCRB), University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 643, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain. nurianieto@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nieto-Nicolau
authors.affiliation: Tissue Bank of BST (GenCat), Calle Dr Antoni Pujadas 42, SSMM Sant Joan de Déu, Edifici Pujadas, E-08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain. emmartinez@bst.cat.
authors.forename: Eva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Martínez-Conesa
authors.affiliation: Pluripotency Group, Department of Physiology I, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Calle Casanovas 143, E-08036 Barcelona, Spain. edel-michael@gmail.com.|Faculty of Medicine, Children's Hospital, University of Sydney, 2006 NSW, Australia. edel-michael@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edel
authors.affiliation: Pluripotency Group, Department of Physiology I, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Calle Casanovas 143, E-08036 Barcelona, Spain. b.alvarez@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: B Álvarez-Palomo
keywords: cell culture; cell-based therapy; cornea; epithelial differentiation; ex vivo expansion; human adult progenitor cells; human stem cells; limbal stem cell deficiency; limbal stem cells; ocular burns