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Ex-vivo ocular surface stem cell therapies: current techniques, applications, hurdles and future directions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2013

Romesh I. Angunawela ,
Jodhbir S. Mehta  and
Julie T. Daniels
Romesh I. Angunawela
Affiliation:
Department of Cornea and External Disease, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, EC1 V 2PD, UK
Jodhbir S. Mehta
Affiliation:
Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore
Julie T. Daniels*
Affiliation:
Department of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1 V 9EL, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Julie T. Daniels, Department of Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1 V 9EL, UK. E-mail: j.daniels@ucl.ac.uk
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Abstract

Engineered tissue derived from ocular surface stem cells (SCs) are a cutting edge biotechnology for repair and restoration of severely damaged eyes as a result of ocular surface dysfunction because of SC failure. Ex-vivo SC expansion techniques have advanced significantly since the first patients were treated in the late 1990s. The techniques and clinical reports reviewed here highlight the evolution and successes of these techniques, while also revealing gaps in our understanding of ocular surface and SC biology that drives further research and development in this field. Although hurdles still remain before stem-cell-based therapies are more widely available for patients with devastating ocular surface disease, recent discoveries in the field of mesenchymal SCs and the potential of induced pluripotent SCs heralds a promising future for clinicians and our patients.

Type
Review Article
Information
Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine , Volume 15 , 2013 , e4
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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