Existence of limbal epithelial crypt within the infant limbus

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The Limbal Epithelial Crypt (LEC) has been suggested to be the limbal epithelial stem cell niche and the limbus has been shown to demonstrate regional variations in association with the LEC. Our aims were to 1) to determine the existence of LEC in the infant age group and 2) compare and contrast the corneo‐scleral tissue between infant and the adult by use of immunofluorescent imaging. Methods Donor eyes were processed and snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. Using a Leica cryostat machine, corneo‐scleral sections were prepared and examined under microscopy for presence of LEC structures. Limbal sections were fixed, and stained with a range of current postulated markers of stem cells and cell differentiation by standard immunofluorescent imaging techniques. Results Immunostaining in the infant group demonstrates that both limbal and corneal epithelium consist of cells that are characteristic of cells with less differentiated nature. No classical adult LEC was discernable in corneo‐scleral rims of a 2 year old or a 4‐month old infant. However, adult LEC immunofluorescence, demonstrate similar characteristics to the infant limbus. Conclusion We hypothesize that the absence of classical adult LEC in infants suggests that LEC may arise during the natural human growth, and may act as a repository for limbal epithelial stem cells in the human adult.