ArticleStem cell research & therapy2022
Hyaluronan supports the limbal stem cell phenotype during ex vivo culture.
Article in Stem cell research & therapy, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- Applied Anatomical and Morphological Characterization of the Ocular Surface of the African Spiny Mice: Acomys cahirinus.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2026Article
- SLC6A6-Mediated Taurine Uptake Sustains Corneal Epithelial Stem/Progenitor Cell Function to Counteract Age-Related Dysfunction.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2025Article
- Prox1 Protein in Corneal Limbal Lymphatic Vessels Maintains Limbal Stem Cell Stemness and Regulates Corneal Injury Repair.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2025Article
- Low fucosylation defines the glycocalyx of progenitor cells and melanocytes in the human limbal stem cell niche.Stem cell reports · 2025Article
- Matrix glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans in human cornea organoids and similarities with fetal corneal stages.The ocular surface · 2025Article
- Development of Biomimetic Substrates for Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells Using Collagen-Based Films, Hyaluronic Acid, Immortalized Cells, and Macromolecular Crowding.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Biomimetic Hyaluronan Binding Biomaterials to Capture the Complex Regulation of Hyaluronan in Tissue Development and Function.Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- The Role of SLIT3-ROBO4 Signaling in Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Delayed Corneal Epithelial and Nerve Regeneration.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2024Article
- Review
- Endogenous TSG-6 modulates corneal inflammation following chemical injury.The ocular surface · 2024Article
- Age related changes in hyaluronan expression leads to Meibomian gland dysfunction.Matrix biology : journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology · 2023Article
- Characterization of the Limbal Epithelial Stem Cell Niche.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2023Article
- Review
- Characterization of the Molecular Weight of Hyaluronan in Eye Products Using a Novel Method of Size Exclusion High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography.Translational vision science & technology · 2023Article
- Chondroitin Sulphate/Dermatan Sulphate Proteoglycans: Potential Regulators of Corneal Stem/Progenitor Cell Phenotype In Vitro.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
- Hyaluronan Modulates the Biomechanical Properties of the Cornea.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2022Article
- Clearing the light path: proteoglycans and their important roles in the lens and cornea.Proteoglycan researchArticle
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundHyaluronan (HA) has previously been identified as an integral component of the limbal stem cell niche in vivo. In this study, we investigated whether a similar HA matrix is also expressed in vitro providing a niche supporting limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) during ex vivo expansion. We also investigated whether providing exogenous HA in vitro is beneficial to LESCs during ex vivo expansion.
methodHuman LESCs (hLESCs) were isolated from donor corneas and a mouse corneal epithelial progenitor cell line (TKE2) was obtained. The HA matrix was identified surrounding LESCs in vitro using immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry and red blood exclusion assay. Thereafter, LESCs were maintained on HA coated dishes or in the presence of HA supplemented in the media, and viability, proliferation, cell size, colony formation capabilities and expression of putative stem cell markers were compared with cells maintained on commonly used coated dishes.
resultshLESCs and TKE2 cells express an HA-rich matrix in vitro, and this matrix is essential for maintaining LESCs. Further supplying exogenous HA, as a substrate and supplemented to the media, increases LESC proliferation, colony formation capabilities and the expression levels of putative limbal stem cell markers.
conclusionOur data show that both exogenous and endogenous HA help to maintain the LESC phenotype. Exogenous HA provides improved culture conditions for LESC during ex vivo expansion. Thus, HA forms a favorable microenvironment for LESCs during ex vivo expansion and, therefore, could be considered as an easy and cost-effective substrate and/or supplement for culturing LESCs in the clinic.
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