PURPOSE To investigate basement membrane (BM) formation during ex vivo expansion of limbal corneal epithelial cells on intact amniotic membrane (iAM) and epithelially denuded (d)AM. METHODS Human limbal explants were cultured on iAM and dAM. Expression of BM components, including laminin-5, type IV collagen, type VII collagen, perlecan, integrin alpha6, and epithelial cell differentiation mar...

PURPOSE To report a unique case of primary corneal melanoma. METHODS A 59-year-old white woman underwent keratectomy to remove a pigmented rapidly enlarging growth on the corner of her left eye. The specimen was submitted for histopathologic examination. RESULTS Ophthalmic examination disclosed no association with limbal or conjunctival melanocytic abnormalities. Histopathologic studies dem...

Purpose Limbal niche cells (LNCs) play a pivotal role in regulating limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LESCs). This study aimed to investigate whether Notch signaling is involved in LNCs' regulation of LESCs. Methods Rat limbus was digested by dispase and collagenase, respectively. Limbal niche cells were isolated by serial passage of collagenase-digested cells on coated Matrigel in a m...

PURPOSE Side population (SP) cells are known to reside in the limbus as putative corneal epithelial stem cells. This study was performed to demonstrate the presence and the characteristics of SP cells in the rabbit limbal epithelium and explore their sensitivity in response to the central cornea wounding. METHODS To sort out the SP cells, freshly isolated rabbit limbal and central corneal epi...

PURPOSE To reconstruct a human hemicornea in vitro by means of limbal stem cells cultured onto human keratoplasty lenticules (HKLs) and to obtain a natural corneal graft for clinical applications. METHODS Limbal stem cells were seeded onto HKLs with or without the presence of feeder layers of lethally irradiated 3T3-J2 cells and compared with the current "gold standard" scaffold, i.e., the fi...

: Limbal stem cell (LSC) deficiency is a visually debilitating condition caused by abnormal maintenance of LSCs. It is treated by transplantation of donor-derived limbal epithelial cells (LECs), the success of which depends on the presence and quality of LSCs within the transplant. Understanding the immunobiological responses of these cells within the transplants could improve cell engraftment ...

OBJECTIVE To document the clinical and morphologic corneal findings in the early stages of congenital aniridic keratopathy in Swedish families. DESIGN Prospective, observational, comparative case series. PARTICIPANTS A total of 16 eyes of 16 subjects with congenital aniridic keratopathy and a clear central cornea, and 6 eyes from 6 healthy controls (unaffected relatives). Nine of the 16 eye...

PURPOSE We evaluated the expression and activation of Notch pathway genes in the adult human and murine corneal epithelium during proliferation. METHODS The expression of Notch pathway genes in the limbal and central human corneal epithelium was compared by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Their expression pattern was examined by immunofluorescence and in situ hybridi...

Objective: To compare the mean changes in central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal endothelial-cell density (CED) after removal of silicon oil (ROSO) using anterior (limbal) versus posterior (pars plana) approach in aphakic patients following successful retinal re attachment surgery. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmolo...

OBJECTIVE To assess the potential role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the pathogenesis of pterygia by comparing the immunolocalization patterns of MMPs in altered limbal basal stem cells, activated fibroblasts, and areas of elastotic degeneration adjacent to the pterygia. METHODS Nine primary and 1 recurrent pterygia along with normal superior limbal-conjunctival tissue and cornea wer...