Welsh Ophthalmic Trainees Society

Publication on mesenchymal stem cells

Charlie Osei-Bempong, one of our ftsta trainees in Singleton, have co-authored an interesting paper on mesenchymal stem cells. This interesting finding will have an impact on the current approach to autologous transplants for people with limbal stem cell deficiency. 



Regen Med. 2016 Mar 11. [Epub ahead of print]

Human limbal mesenchymal stem cells express ABCB5 and can grow on amniotic membrane.

Abstract

AIM:

To isolate and characterize limbal mesenchymal stem cells (LMSCs) from human corneoscleral rings.

MATERIALS & METHODS:

Cells were isolated from corneoscleral rings and cultured in a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-selective media and examined for differentiation, phenotyping and characterization.

RESULTS:

LMSCs were capable of trilineage differentiation, adhered to tissue culture plastic, expressed HLA class I and cell surface antigens associated with human MSC while having no/low expression of HLA class II and negative hematopoietic lineage markers. They were capable for CXCL12-mediated cellular migration. LMSCs adhered, proliferated on amniotic membrane and expressed the common putative limbal stem cell markers.

CONCLUSION:

Limbal-derived MSC exhibited plasticity, could maintain limbal markers expression and demonstrated viable growth on amniotic membrane.

KEYWORDS:

ABCB5; amniotic membrane; limbal mesenchymal stem cells; limbal stem cell deficiency; limbal stem cells