Trabecular meshwork cells are a valuable resource for cellular therapy of glaucoma

Abstract

Trabecular meshwork (TM) contains a subset of adult stem cells or progenitors that can be differentiated into corneal endothelial cells, adipocytes and chondrocytes, but not osteocytes or keratocytes. Accordingly, these progenitors can be utilized as a cell-based therapy to prevent blindness caused by glaucoma, corneal endothelial dysfunction and other diseases in general. In this review, we review in vitro expansion techniques for TM progenitors, discuss their phenotypic properties, and highlight their potential clinical applications in various ophthalmic diseases.