Corneal Epithelium Repair and Therapy Using Autologous Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation

Summary

Corneal disease is a leading cause of blindness in the world. A shortage of corneal donor tissue has prevented many patients from regaining vision. Additionally, refractive error such as myopia is a major cause of impaired visual function worldwide. Although refractive error is correctable by procedures that modify the refractive power of the cornea, these procedures often weaken corneal integrity and have risk of complications. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of corneal surface epithelium repair and regeneration in the treatment of corneal surface diseases and refractive error using autologous limbal stem cell transplantation.

Timeline

Start

2012-12

Primary completion

2014-06

Completion

2014-09

Publications

• Background Kolli S, Ahmad S, Mudhar HS, Meeny A, Lako M, Figueiredo FC. Successful application of ex vivo expanded human autologous oral mucosal epithelium for the treatment of total bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency. Stem Cells. 2014 Aug;32(8):2135-46. doi: 10.1002/stem.1694.
• Background Zakaria N, Possemiers T, Dhubhghaill SN, Leysen I, Rozema J, Koppen C, Timmermans JP, Berneman Z, Tassignon MJ. Results of a phase I/II clinical trial: standardized, non-xenogenic, cultivated limbal stem cell transplantation. J Transl Med. 2014 Mar 3;12:58. doi: 10.1186/1479-5876-12-58.
• Background Vazirani J, Basu S, Kenia H, Ali MH, Kacham S, Mariappan I, Sangwan V. Unilateral partial limbal stem cell deficiency: contralateral versus ipsilateral autologous cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation. Am J Ophthalmol. 2014 Mar;157(3):584-90.e1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2013.11.011. Epub 2013 Nov 19.
• Background Wu Z, Zhou Q, Duan H, Wang X, Xiao J, Duan H, Li N, Li C, Wan P, Liu Y, Song Y, Zhou C, Huang Z, Wang Z. Reconstruction of auto-tissue-engineered lamellar cornea by dynamic culture for transplantation: a rabbit model. PLoS One. 2014 Apr 4;9(4):e93012. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093012. eCollection 2014.
• Background Konomi K, Satake Y, Shimmura S, Tsubota K, Shimazaki J. Long-term results of amniotic membrane transplantation for partial limbal deficiency. Cornea. 2013 Aug;32(8):1110-5. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e31828d06d2.
• Background Rama P, Matuska S, Paganoni G, Spinelli A, De Luca M, Pellegrini G. Limbal stem-cell therapy and long-term corneal regeneration. N Engl J Med. 2010 Jul 8;363(2):147-55. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0905955. Epub 2010 Jun 23.
• Background Ouyang H, Xue Y, Lin Y, Zhang X, Xi L, Patel S, Cai H, Luo J, Zhang M, Zhang M, Yang Y, Li G, Li H, Jiang W, Yeh E, Lin J, Pei M, Zhu J, Cao G, Zhang L, Yu B, Chen S, Fu XD, Liu Y, Zhang K. WNT7A and PAX6 define corneal epithelium homeostasis and pathogenesis. Nature. 2014 Jul 17;511(7509):358-61. doi: 10.1038/nature13465. Epub 2014 Jul 2.

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