PURPOSE To localize a gene causing a newly described autosomal dominant anterior segment dysgenesis characterized by corneal endothelial dystrophy, iris hypoplasia, congenital cataracts, and corneal stromal thinning (EDICT syndrome). DESIGN Experimental study. METHODS A set of microsatellite markers spanning the 22 human autosomes was used to perform linkage analysis on affected and unaffec...

since alkaline substances can rapidly penetrate into the cornea and subsequently damage limbal stem cells, another source of stem cells may be necessary to reconstruct the ocular surface. omentum has some such characteristics like ability to regenerate tissue as well as anti-inflammatory capacity. presence of adult stem cells and pluripotent embryonic cell markers make it suitable in wound heal...

PURPOSE To detect and isolate cells with stem cell (SC) characteristics in the limbus of the mouse. METHODS Limbal tissues from BALB/c mice were trypsin-dissociated and separated on the gradient Percoll (Fluka, Buchs, Switzerland). Several fractions were isolated and characterized by real-time PCR for the presence of limbal SC markers and differentiation markers of corneal epithelial cells by...

Various clinical disorders and injuries, such as chemical, thermal, or mechanical injuries, may lead to corneal loss that results in blindness. PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to differentiate human buccal mucosa (BMuc) into corneal epithelial-like cells, to fabricate engineered corneal tissue using buccal mucosal epithelial cells, and to reconstruct a damaged corneal epithelium in a nude ...

OBJECTIVES To study changes in tear film inflammatory mediators following continuous wear of silicone-hydrogel lenses and corneal refractive therapy with reverse geometry contact lenses. DESIGN A prospective, case-control study. METHODS Twenty-eight subjects had worn silicone-hydrogel lenses on a 30-night continuous wear basis. Thirty-two subjects had worn corneal refractive therapy lenses ...

PURPOSE To demonstrate the presence of corneal stromal precursors that express neural markers in vitro. METHODS To isolate sphere-forming cells, human corneal stromal cells were subjected to a reaggregation-free neurosphere assay in medium containing methylcellulose gel matrix. To promote differentiation, the isolated sphere colonies were plated in wells with medium containing fetal bovine se...

PURPOSE To develop a mouse model of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) by topical administration of benzalkonium chloride (BAC). METHODS BAC solutions (0%-0.5%) were applied to the mouse ocular surface for 4 weeks. Corneal neovascularization, inflammation, and epithelial status were observed under slit-lamp microscope. The eyeball and ocular surface tissues were collected at 4 and 12 weeks an...

The aim of this study was to investigate the transdifferentiation potential of murine vibrissa hair follicle (HF) stem cells into corneal epithelial-like cells through modulation by corneal- or limbus-specific microenvironmental factors. Adult epithelial stem cells were isolated from the HF bulge region by mechanical dissection or fluorescence-activated cell sorting using antibodies to alpha6 i...