title: Self-organized centripetal movement of corneal epithelium in the absence of external cues.
abstract: Maintaining the structure of the cornea is essential for high-quality vision. In adult mammals, corneal epithelial cells emanate from stem cells in the limbus, driven by an unknown mechanism towards the centre of the cornea as cohesive clonal groups. Here we use complementary mathematical and biological models to show that corneal epithelial cells can self-organize into a cohesive, centripetal growth pattern in the absence of external physiological cues. Three conditions are required: a circumferential location of stem cells, a limited number of cell divisions and mobility in response to population pressure. We have used these complementary models to provide explanations for the increased rate of centripetal migration caused by wounding and the potential for stem cell leakage to account for stable transplants derived from central corneal tissue, despite the predominantly limbal location of stem cells.
authors: School of Mathematics and Statistics, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
authors: Erwin P
authors: EP
authors: Lobo
authors: Discipline of Dermatology, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia.|Immune Imaging Program, Centenary Institute for Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, Camperdown, New South Wales 2042, Australia.
authors: Naomi C
authors: NC
authors: Delic
authors: Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Richardson
authors: Discipline of Dermatology, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia.|Immune Imaging Program, Centenary Institute for Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, Camperdown, New South Wales 2042, Australia.
authors: Vanisri
authors: V
authors: Raviraj
authors: Discipline of Dermatology, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
authors: Gary M
authors: GM
authors: Halliday
authors: Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
authors: Nick
authors: N
authors: Di Girolamo
authors: School of Mathematics and Statistics, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
authors: Mary R
authors: MR
authors: Myerscough
authors: Discipline of Dermatology, Bosch Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia.|Immune Imaging Program, Centenary Institute for Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, Camperdown, New South Wales 2042, Australia.|Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Cancer Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia.
authors: J Guy
authors: JG
authors: Lyons
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000528:radiation effects; D002999:Clone Cells; D003463:Cues; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays