Human pluripotent stem cells as a scalable source for limbal stem cells ‐ From basic biology towards clinical applications

Abstract

There is an unmet clinical need to treat especially bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). For this allogeneic source of limbal stem cells (LSCs) differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) could provide a solution. In our studies, we have developed efficient methods to produce an enriched population of ABCG2‐positive as well as later arising p63/ABCB5‐postive hiPSC‐LSCs and our current research hypothesis is that these cells including both quiescent and proliferative sub‐populations could represent high regenerative potential in future clinical applications. Towards that end, we have been conducting molecular and functional analyses of these different sub‐populations to increase the understanding of their identity and heterogeneity as comparison to native human corneal limbus. With this approach we wish to gather data‐driven strategy towards clinical applications.