Corneal Epithelial Stem Cells Repopulate the Donor Area within 1 Year from Limbus Removal for Limbal Autograft

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• 作者：Massimo Busin ; MD¹ ; ² ; ^{mbusin@yahoo.com" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Claudia Breda³ ; Marina Bertolin ; BSc³ ; Cristina Bovone ; MD¹ ; ² ; Diego Ponzin ; MD³ ; Stefano Ferrari ; PhD³ ; Vanessa Barbaro ; PhD³ ; Hossein Mostafa Elbadawy ; PhD³ ; ⁴
• 关键词：LAT ; limbal autograft transplantation ; LESC ; limbal epithelial stem cell
• 刊名：Ophthalmology
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：December 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：123
• 期：12
• 页码：2481-2488
• 全文大小：2409 K

文摘

To determine whether limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) repopulate the site harvested for limbal autograft transplantation (LAT), the expression of LESCs markers was evaluated in bioptic specimens obtained from the donor area 12 months or more after surgery.

Design

Interventional case series.

Participants

Patients who underwent LAT for unilateral acquired limbal stem cell deficiency after chemical burn.

Methods

Corneal limbal explants were obtained from 2 sites, the harvested area and the untouched control area, in the donor eyes of 6 patients who previously underwent LAT for unilateral acquired limbal stem cell deficiency after chemical burn. Limbal epithelial stem cells were isolated, and cellular, immunohistochemistry, and histologic parameters were assessed to compare differences between LESCs isolated from harvested or control sites.

Main Outcome Measures

Presence of LESCs 1 year or more after LAT.

Results

Specific markers (p63, Ki67, K12), percentage of LESCs, cell doubling, and number of passages in culture did not differ significantly between harvested and control sites. However, the distinctive structure of the palisades of Vogt was found only in 2 of 6 harvested sites.

Conclusions

Limbal epithelial stem cells repopulate the donor site as early as 1 year after limbus removal for LAT. Autologous transplantation of conjunctiva and limbus are safe procedures and can be performed in cases that cannot be treated by simple grafting of LESCs cultured ex vivo.