Open AccessSpatial Distribution of Niche and Stem Cells in Ex Vivo Human Limbal Cultures
Author(s) -
Mariappan Indumathi,
Kacham Santhosh,
Purushotham Jyothi,
Maddileti Savitri,
Siamwala Jamila,
Sangwan Virender Singh
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
stem cells translational medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.781
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 2157-6580
pISSN - 2157-6564
DOI - 10.5966/sctm.2014-0120
Subject(s) - stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , ex vivo , explant culture , nestin , niche , adult stem cell , stem cell marker , limbal stem cell , immunology , neural stem cell , in vivo , in vitro , corneal epithelium , epithelium , endothelial stem cell , genetics , biochemistry
Ex vivo cultured limbal epithelial transplantations are being widely practiced in the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency. This report examined whether the limbal niche cells that nurture and regulate epithelial stem cells coexist in ex vivo limbal cultures and compared the inherent differences between explant and suspension culture systems in terms of spatial distribution of niche cells and their effect on epithelial stem cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation in vitro.