角膜缘干细胞的研究

Researches on limbal stem cells of the corneal epithelium

角膜缘干细胞是位于角膜缘基底上皮层底的一类特殊类型的上皮细胞,随着细胞培养技术的发展,角膜缘干细胞体外培养后移植用于治疗由于角膜缘干细胞缺乏或者功能不全引起的眼表疾病成为研究的热点。本文就其解剖学定位、生物学特性、组织工程化角膜的基础性研究及其临床应用做一综述。

This paper reviews researches about limbal stem cells of the corneal ep ithelium in the past 20 years. Corneal epithelial stem cells are known to have a rapid self-renewing capacity. Studies of cellular differentiation and prolifera tion suggest that corneal epithelial stem cells are located exclusively in the b asal limbal epithelium between the cornea and the conjunctiva. The microenvironm ent of the limbus is considered to be important in maintaining the stemness of s tem cells. Limbal stem cells also act as a barrier to conjunctival epithelial ce lls and normally prevent them from migrating onto the corneal surface. Transplan tation of cultured corneal epithelium stem cells offers an important approach to the treatment of corneal stem cell deficiency or dysfunction. Corneal epithelia l stem cells will be a tool for reconstructing new corneal stroma and this may p rovide a basis for future study on the reconstruction of cornea.