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Review
. 2015:2015:601731.
doi: 10.1155/2015/601731. Epub 2015 Jun 4.

An Update on Ocular Surface Epithelial Stem Cells: Cornea and Conjunctiva

Tiago Ramos  1 , Deborah Scott  1 , Sajjad Ahmad  2
Affiliations
Review

An Update on Ocular Surface Epithelial Stem Cells: Cornea and Conjunctiva

Tiago Ramos et al. Stem Cells Int. 2015.

Abstract

The human ocular surface (front surface of the eye) is formed by two different types of epithelia: the corneal epithelium centrally and the conjunctival epithelium that surrounds this. These two epithelia are maintained by different stem cell populations (limbal stem cells for the corneal epithelium and the conjunctival epithelial stem cells). In this review, we provide an update on our understanding of these epithelia and their stem cells systems, including embryology, new markers, and controversy around the location of these stem cells. We also provide an update on the translation of this understanding into clinical applications for the treatment of debilitating ocular surface diseases.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cross-sectional illustrative view of the adult human eye.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Limbal SCs for the corneal epithelium reside in the basal layer of the limbal epithelium. Transient amplifying cells divide and migrate towards the central cornea to replace the terminal corneal ECs that get shed from the corneal surface. The stroma of the limbal SC niche is populated by fibroblasts and nourished by blood vessels (BL: Bowman's layer).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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