Corneal cell therapy-an overview

• Published in: Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft Vol. 114; no. 8; pp. 705 - 715
• Main Authors: Fuest, M, Yam, G Hin-Fai, Peh, G Swee-Lim, Walter, P, Plange, N, Mehta, J S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01-08-2017
• Subjects: Animals; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy - methods; Cells, Cultured; Corneal Keratocytes - transplantation; Corneal Stroma - cytology; Disease Models, Animal; Endothelium, Corneal - cytology; Epithelium, Corneal - cytology; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Limbus Corneae - cytology; Stem Cell Transplantation - methods; Tissue Engineering - methods; Cornea; Transplantation; Cell therapy; Tissue engineering; Stem cell
• ISSN: 1433-0423
• DOI: 10.1007/s00347-017-0454-6

In recent years, the cultivation and expansion of primary corneal cells has made significant progress. The transplantation of cultured limbal epithelial cells represents a successful and established treatment of the ocular surface. Cultivated corneal endothelial cells are undergoing a clinical trial in Japan. Stromal keratocytes can now be expanded in vitro. A wide range of stem cell sources is being tested in vitro and animal models for their possible application in corneal cell therapy. This article gives an overview of recent advancements and prevailing limitations for the use of different cell sources in the therapy of corneal disease.