Epithelial stem cells: The eye provides a vision

R. M. Lavker*, T. T. Sun

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

Epithelial stem cells play a central role in tissue homeostasis, wound repair, and carcinogenesis. Corneal epithelial stem cells have been demonstrated to reside in the limbal epithelium, while the fornical zone of the conjunctiva appears to be a predominant site of conjunctival epithelial stem cells. Stem cells of the corneal and conjunctival epithelia, as well as the hair follicle and interfollicular epidermis share important features: they are capable of self renewal, they are relatively quiescent (slow-cycling); they can be induced to proliferate; and they are multipotent. Its becoming apparent that a certain degree of flexibility exists between corneal and hair follicle keratinocytes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)937-942
Number of pages6
JournalEye
Volume17
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2003

Funding

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants EY06769, EY13711 (RML) and DK39753, DK52206, DK52643, DK57629 (T-TS).

Keywords

  • Bipotent
  • Fornical epithelium
  • Limbal epithelium
  • Stem cell flexibility

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology
  • Sensory Systems

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