Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32795525›Full record

ReviewExperimental eye research2020

Niche regulation of limbal epithelial stem cells: HC-HA/PTX3 as surrogate matrix niche.

Scheffer C G Tseng, Szu-Yu Chen, Olivia G Mead, Sean Tighe

Open access · greenAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Experimental eye research, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 16% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 26 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. CD44 signaling in skin wound healing and regeneration.Journal of translational medicine · 2025
    Review
  4. Multiple Stem/Progenitor Cells Isolated from the Limbus.Current stem cell research & therapy · 2025
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Hyaluronan Modulates the Biomechanical Properties of the Cornea.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2022
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Scheffer C G TsengResearch & Development Department, TissueTech, Inc., Miami, FL, 33126, USA; Ocular Surface Center and Ocular Surface Research & Education Foundation, Miami, FL, 33126, USA. Electronic address: stseng@tissuetechinc.com.
Szu-Yu ChenResearch & Development Department, TissueTech, Inc., Miami, FL, 33126, USA.
Olivia G MeadResearch & Development Department, TissueTech, Inc., Miami, FL, 33126, USA.
Sean TigheResearch & Development Department, TissueTech, Inc., Miami, FL, 33126, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
Ocular Surface Center · USUniversity of Miami · US

Funding

VITAMIN A AND CONJUNCTIVAL TRANSDIFFERENTIATIONR01EY006819 · NEI · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · PI TSENG, SCHEFFER CG · 1986 to 2020
$6.7M
NEI NIH HHS R01 EY006819
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Homeostasis of the corneal epithelium is ultimately maintained by stem cells that reside in a specialized microenvironment within the corneal limbus termed palisades of Vogt. This limbal niche nourishes, protects, and regulates quiescence, self-renewal, and fate decision of limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LEPCs) toward corneal epithelial differentiation. This review focuses on our current understanding of the mechanism by which limbal (stromal) niche cells (LNCs) regulate the aforementioned functions of LEPCs. Based on our discovery and characterization of a unique extracellular matrix termed HC-HA/PTX3 (Heavy chain (HC1)-hyaluronan (HA)/pentraxin 3 (PTX3) complex, "-" denotes covalent linkage; "/" denotes non-covalent binding) in the birth tissue, i.e., amniotic membrane and umbilical cord, we put forth a new paradigm that HC-HA/PTX3 serves as a surrogate matrix niche by maintaining the in vivo nuclear Pax6+ neural crest progenitor phenotype to support quiescence and self-renewal but prevent corneal fate decision of LEPCs. This new paradigm helps explain how limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) develops in aniridia due to Pax6-haplotype deficiency and further explains why transplantation of HC-HA/PTX3-containing amniotic membrane prevents LSCD in acute chemical burns and Stevens Johnson syndrome, augments the success of autologous LEPCs transplantation in patients suffering from partial or total LSCD, and assists ex vivo expansion (engineering) of a graft containing LEPCs. We thus envisage that this new paradigm based on regenerative matrix HC-HA/PTX3 as a surrogate niche can set a new standard for regenerative medicine in and beyond ophthalmology.

Indexed as

Stem Cell NicheCell DifferentiationCells, CulturedCorneal DiseasesC-Reactive ProteinHumansLimbus CorneaePentraxinsSerum Amyloid P-ComponentC-Reactive ProteinPentraxinsSerum Amyloid P-ComponentAmniotic membraneHC-HA/PTX3Limbal stem cell deficiencyLimbusNicheStem cell

Identifiers

PMID32795525
PMCPMC7554097
OpenAlexW3048816439

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.