Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

An Epithelial Abrasion Model for Studying Corneal Wound Healing
04:45

An Epithelial Abrasion Model for Studying Corneal Wound Healing

Published on: December 29, 2021

Apoptosis in the initiation, modulation and termination of the corneal wound healing response

Steven E Wilson1, Shyam S Chaurasia, Fabricio W Medeiros

  • 1The Cole Eye Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. wilsons4@ccf.org

Experimental Eye Research
|July 28, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Apoptosis, programmed cell death, plays a crucial role in corneal wound healing. This process not only initiates healing but also modulates and terminates the response over weeks to months.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Cell Biology
  • Regenerative Medicine

Background:

  • Stromal keratocyte apoptosis is a known early event in corneal wound healing.
  • This process initiates subsequent cellular events like cell infiltration and proliferation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize recent findings on the broader role of apoptosis in corneal stromal wound healing.
  • To highlight apoptosis's modulation and termination functions in the healing process.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on corneal wound healing and apoptosis.
  • Synthesis of findings to establish the multifaceted role of apoptosis.

Main Results:

  • Apoptosis has been implicated in modulating and terminating corneal wound healing.
  • Its role extends beyond initiation, influencing the process over weeks to months post-injury.

Conclusions:

  • Apoptosis is a critical regulator of corneal stromal wound healing, with functions extending to modulation and termination.
  • The timing and impact of apoptosis depend on the type and extent of corneal injury.

More Related Videos

Corneal Epithelial Abrasion with Ocular Burr As a Model for Cornea Wound Healing07:28

Corneal Epithelial Abrasion with Ocular Burr As a Model for Cornea Wound Healing

Published on: July 10, 2018

Investigating Scarless Tissue Regeneration in Embryonic Wounded Chick Corneas09:31

Investigating Scarless Tissue Regeneration in Embryonic Wounded Chick Corneas

Published on: May 2, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...
Phases of Wound Repair01:28

Phases of Wound Repair

Following injury, the integrity of the injured tissues must be reestablished. For example, in skin tissue, wound repair involves coordination among resident skin cells, blood mononuclear cells, extracellular matrix, growth factors, and cytokines to complete the healing cascade.
Formation of Blood Clot
In case of deep injuries, trauma to blood vessels results in blood loss. In the meantime, phospholipids released from the ruptured endothelial cellular membrane are converted into arachidonic...
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...