Background & Aims: This study was carried out to determine the leading indications for corneal transplantation in Kerman province. Methods: Medical records of 186 patients underwent corneal transplantation during 3 years (2004-2006) in Shafa Medical Center were evaluated retrospectively. The initial diagnosis and causes of corneal grafting were recorded. Infectious keratitis (Bacterial, Fungal,...

Corneal blindness is the fourth leading cause of blindness in the world. Current treatment is allogenic corneal transplantation, which is limited by shortage of donors and immunological rejection. Skin-derived precursors (SKPs) are postnatal stem cells, which are self-renewing, multipotent precursors that can be isolated and expanded from the dermis. Facial skin may therefore be an accessible a...

PURPOSE The healing process of some corneal wounds involves closure by stromal contraction and the renewal of the stratified epithelium. In wound gape injury such stromal contraction occurs with epithelial stratification. In previous in vitro studies of noncontracted and contracted corneal fibroblast-seeded collagen gels (FSCGs) it was shown that initiation of wound contraction by the myofibrob...

PURPOSE To investigate the potential of a pigment epithelial-derived factor (PEDF) peptide 44-mer to promote limbal regeneration in a rabbit partial limbal deficiency model. METHODS Limbal excision (180°) was created surgically, and topical application of 44-mer-containing ointment once a day for 2 weeks was started immediately after injury. Limbal barrier function was inspected at 2 and 6 mo...

Corneal tissue regeneration is of crucial importance for maintaining normal vision. We aimed to isolate and cultivate human corneal stroma-derived mesenchymal stem-like cells (CSMSCs) from the central part of cadaver corneas and study their phenotype, multipotency, role in immunity and wound healing. The isolated cells grew as monolayers in vitro, expressed mesenchymal- and stemness-related sur...

Long-term preservation of corneal limbal epithelium may decrease its quality and change the molecular signature of the limbal epithelial stem cells. In this study we have investigated the molecular profile of isolated corneal epithelial cells that have been in storage for an extended time. Isolated cells were characterised by the expression profile of different cytokeratins and markers of squam...

Purpose To examine the neuronal structural integrity of cornea and retina as markers for neuronal degeneration in nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Methods Participants were recruited from the broader Brisbane community, Queensland, Australia. Two hundred forty-one participants (187 with diabetes and 54 nondiabetic controls) were examined. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) was graded acco...

PURPOSE Nucleostemin, a nuclear protein involved in the regulation of cell cycle and proliferation, is a candidate marker for various stem cells. We examined the expression of nucleostemin as a marker of differentiation and senescence in corneal epithelial progenitor cells. METHODS Nucleostemin expression in normal mouse corneal epithelium was examined by RT-PCR, as well as in cultured mouse ...

Keratoconus(KC) is an ecstatic corneal disease leading to corneal-thinning and the formation of a cone-like cornea. Elevated lactate levels, increased oxidative stress, and myofibroblast formation have all been previously reported. In the current study, we assess the role of Quercetin on collagen secretion and myofibroblast formation in KC in vitro. Human corneal fibroblasts(HCFs) and human ker...

PURPOSE To evaluate whether mouse adipose tissue mesothelial cells (ATMCs) share morphologic and biochemical characteristics with mouse corneal endothelial cells (CECs) and to evaluate their capacity to adhere to the decellularized basal membrane of human anterior lens capsules (HALCs) as a potential tissue-engineered surrogate for corneal endothelium replacement. METHODS Adipose tissue mesot...