Chapter 5 Limbal Stem Cells. Application in Ocular Biomedicine

摘要: Abstract Corneal opacification due to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is an important cause for ocular morbidity, resulting from a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. While the factors include conditions such as chemical or thermal injuries, dysfunction, reduction in cells either pathological changes autoimmune diseases secondary certain clinical diabetes, dry eye disorders, multiple previous surgeries. LSCD characterized by classic triad signs—conjunctivalization, neovascularization decrease vision. With increasing knowledge cells, treatment this condition has evolved simple debridement use biological materials, direct transplantation healthy tissue contralateral eye, allogenic source cultivated epithelial sheets. This chapter provides update on disease pathology, various methodologies, with specific emphasis fast developing field therapy engineering.