title: A Simple Mechanical Procedure to Create Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency in Mouse.
abstract: Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is a state of malfunction or loss of limbal epithelial stem cells, after which the corneal epithelium is replaced with conjunctiva. Patients suffer from recurrent corneal defects, pain, inflammation, and loss of vision. Previously, a murine model of LSCD was described and compared to two other models. The goal was to produce a consistent mouse model of LSCD that both mimics the phenotype in humans and lasts long enough to make it possible to study the disease pathophysiology and to evaluate new treatments. Here, the technique is described in more detail. A motorized tool with a rotating burr has been designed to remove the rust rings from the corneal surface or to smooth the pterygium bed in patients. It is a suitable device to create the desired LSCD model. It is a readily available, easy-to-use tool with a fine tip that makes it appropriate for working on small eyes, as in mice. Its application prevents unnecessary trauma to the eye and it does not result in unwanted injuries, as often is the case with chemical injury models. As opposed to a blunt scraper, it removes the epithelium with the basement membrane. In this protocol, the limbal area was abraded two times, and then the whole corneal epithelium was shaved from limbus to limbus. To avoid stroma injury, care was taken not to brush the corneal surface once the epithelium was already removed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago.
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Afsharkhamseh
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghahari
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago.
authors.forename: Medi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eslani
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago; adjalili@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Ali R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Djalilian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003316:Corneal Diseases; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D013234:Stem Cells