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Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Published in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 9/2016

01-09-2016 | Basic Science

Characterization of the corneal surface in limbal stem cell deficiency and after transplantation of cultured allogeneic limbal epithelial cells

Authors: Peng Chen, Qingjun Zhou, Junyi Wang, Xiaowen Zhao, Haoyun Duan, Yao Wang, Ting Liu, Lixin Xie

Published in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology | Issue 9/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to characterize the changes that occur in the cornea during Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD) and on the corneal surface after transplantation of ex vivo cultured allogeneic limbal epithelial transplantation (CALET).

Methods

Forty-one pannus were analyzed to characterize the changes found in the cornea in LSCD. Nineteen impression cytology samples, including 14 pannus and five corneal buttons, obtained during subsequent procedures from patients who had undergone CALET were examined to assess the effect of CALET and to determine the long-term fate of donor cells. The presence of donor and recipient epithelial cells in each sample was determined by short tandem repeat (STR) amplification and fluorescent-multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Phenotypic analysis of the epithelium was performed by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR.

Results

The expression of lineage markers was similar between pannus and conjunctivae, but not to corneas. Objective long-term benefits from the transplantation were recorded in most cases. After CALET, the lineage markers in the excised corneal buttons and pannus showed a limbus phenotype. DNA analysis of the 19 cases showed no donor cells present on the ocular surface beyond three months after CALET.

Conclusions

LSCD was characterized by ingrowth of abnormal, inflamed tissue with a conjunctival phenotype. CALET was a useful technique for restoring the ocular surface in LSCD. However, such benefits did not necessarily correlate with survival of measurable numbers of donor cells on the ocular surface. The absence of donor DNA beyond three months raises questions regarding the period of ongoing immunosuppression and the origin of the regenerated corneal epithelium.
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Metadata
Title
Characterization of the corneal surface in limbal stem cell deficiency and after transplantation of cultured allogeneic limbal epithelial cells
Authors
Peng Chen
Qingjun Zhou
Junyi Wang
Xiaowen Zhao
Haoyun Duan
Yao Wang
Ting Liu
Lixin Xie
Publication date
01-09-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology / Issue 9/2016
Print ISSN: 0721-832X
Electronic ISSN: 1435-702X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-016-3410-2

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