Open AccessAUTOLOGOUS FIBRIN-CULTURED LIMBAL STEM CELLS PERMANENTLY RESTORE THE CORNEAL SURFACE OF PATIENTS WITH TOTAL LIMBAL STEM CELL DEFICIENCY1
Author(s) -
Paolo Rama,
Stefano Bombardieri,
Alessandro Lambìase,
Osvaldo Golisano,
Patrizia Paterna,
Michele De Luca,
Graziella Pellegrini
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.45
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1534-6080
pISSN - 0041-1337
DOI - 10.1097/00007890-200111150-00002
Subject(s) - limbal stem cell , fibrin , stem cell , medicine , corneal epithelium , ophthalmology , corneal diseases , pathology , cornea , surgery , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology
Ocular burns cause depletion of limbal stem cells, which leads to corneal opacification and visual loss. Autologous cultured epithelial cells can restore damaged corneas, but this technology is still developing. We sought to establish a culture system that allows preservation of limbal stem cells and preparation of manageable epithelial sheets and to investigate whether such cultures can permanently restore total limbal stem cell deficiency.