Limbal Stromal Stem Cells in Corneal Wound Healing: Current Perspectives and Future Applications

Abstract

Corneal pathologies are one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness globally. The traditional and most commonly performed corneal transplantation is limited by the inadequacy of the donor tissues and graft failure. The recent discovery of mesenchymal stem cells in the limbus and their presence from many other sources of the human body, capable of modulating corneal wound healing, has opened up the possibility of using cell-based therapy and ameliorating the corneal blindness. Human limbal-derived stem cells have manifested and proven their efficacy through various well-established surgical interventions over the past decade. The current chapter deals with the role of mesenchymal stem cells obtained from limbal stroma in wound healing, reducing scarring in superficial corneal pathologies like scars, as evident from the results of preclinical studies. Various factors involved in the corneal repair mechanisms and the different sources of mesenchymal stem cells are mentioned. Different clinical approaches and various stem cell therapies were addressed along with the main highlights of our current clinical trial with a note on the requirements for the maintenance of a cGMP facility.