Ocular surface reconstruction with tissue-engineered corneal epithelium
Liying Zhang, Yangluowa Qu, Dulei Zou, Juan Li, Shangkun Ou, Tingting Liu, Nuo Dong, Zhirong Lin, Shunrong Luo, Xumin Shang, Lei Yan, Zhiwen Xie, Huping Wu, Zuguo Liu, Wei Li
Published 2016-04-25
Cite as Chin J Optom Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2016, 18(4): 209-214. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1674-845X.2016.04.004
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term outcome of ocular surface reconstruction with tissue-engineered corneal epithelium in the treatment of total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).
MethodsIn a case series, 6 eyes of 6 patients with total LSCD resulting from severe chemical injury (3 eyes), blast injury (2 eyes), or thermal burn (1 eye) were included in this study. Denuded amniotic membrane was used as the carrier to culture autologous corneal epithelial stem cells to construct tissue-engineered corneal epithelium. After that, tissue-engineered corneal epithelium was transplanted onto the LSCD ocular surface after removal of the corneal pannus. Visual acuity, slit lamp photography, ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and Schirmer I test were performed before surgery and during the follow-up.
ResultsAfter cell culture for 3 weeks, the autologous corneal epithelial cells proliferated and formed a stratified epithelial cell sheet 15 mm in diameter. All tissue-engineered corneal epithelia were successfully transplanted onto the ocular surface of the LSCD patients. Three months after surgery, there were no epithelial defects in the recipient corneas and the corneal surface remained smooth. Corneal scar tissue was removed and the pannus was significantly reduced. There was an improvement in visual acuity in all patients.
ConclusionTransplantation of tissue-engineered corneal epithelia based on the ex-vivo expansion of autologous corneal epithelial stem cells may be an effective treatment to reconstruct the ocular surface of LSCD patients.
Key words:
Stem cells, epithelium, corneal; Tissue engineering; Reconstructive surgical procedure, ocular
Contributor Information
Liying Zhang
Eye Institute of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
Yangluowa Qu
Dulei Zou
Juan Li
Shangkun Ou
Tingting Liu
Nuo Dong
Zhirong Lin
Shunrong Luo
Xumin Shang
Lei Yan
Zhiwen Xie
Huping Wu
Zuguo Liu
Wei Li