Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Stem Cell Culture01:17

Stem Cell Culture

Stem cell research aims to find ways to use stem cells to regenerate and repair cellular damage. Over time, most adult cells undergo the wear and tear of aging and lose their ability to divide and repair themselves. Stem cells do not display a particular morphology or function. Adult stem cells, which exist as a small subset of cells in most tissues, keep dividing and can differentiate into a number of specialized cells generally formed by that tissue. These cells enable the body to renew and...
Embryonic Stem Cells00:57

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The human limbus functions as an instructive epithelial transition zone.

Research square·2026
Same author

Australasian consensus recommendations on stem cell therapies for managing ocular surface diseases.

The ocular surface·2026
Same author

In situ spatial transcriptomics reveals novel markers of the limbal stem cell niche and ocular surface epithelia.

Stem cell reports·2026
Same author

Development of a microscopy-based diagnostic test for alkali injury-induced limbal stem cell deficiency through Autofluorescence Multispectral Imaging.

Experimental eye research·2025
Same author

Mechanistic insights into conjunctivalization in limbal stem cell deficiency using a lineage tracing approach.

The ocular surface·2025
Same author

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Murine Limbal Epithelia Reveals Gas1 as a Novel Stem/Progenitor Cell Marker for the Corneal Epithelium.

Cornea·2025
Same journal

Brent A. Reynolds, pioneer of adult neural stem cell biology.

Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio)·2026
Same journal

CircVapa promotes the abnormal differentiation of small intestinal epithelial stem cells in diabetic state.

Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio)·2026
Same journal

Transforming Growth Factor beta-2 (TGFβ2) Drives Trabecular Meshwork Progenitor Cell Differentiation Through SMAD2/3 Signalling.

Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio)·2026
Same journal

Circular RNA circEGFR overexpression attenuates chemosensitivity and enhances cancer stemness via targeting IGF2BP2/SOX2 in breast cancer cells.

Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio)·2026
Same journal

Regeneration of the mammalian brain: a relic of evolution?

Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio)·2026
Same journal

Mitochondrial transfer technologies with molecular insights into clinical applications.

Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Efficient and Scalable Directed Differentiation of Clinically Compatible Corneal Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
10:07

Efficient and Scalable Directed Differentiation of Clinically Compatible Corneal Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: October 24, 2018

Stem cell activity in the developing human cornea.

Sarah B Davies1, Jeanie Chui, Michelle C Madigan

  • 1Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.

Stem Cells (Dayton, Ohio)
|August 28, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers identified a novel ridge-like structure in fetal corneas, representing the rudimentary stem cell niche. This finding advances understanding of corneal stem cell development and potential therapeutic applications.

More Related Videos

Isolation and Identification of Limbal Niche Cells
10:11

Isolation and Identification of Limbal Niche Cells

Published on: October 27, 2023

A Protocol for Harvesting Single-cell Suspension from Mouse Corneas
04:50

A Protocol for Harvesting Single-cell Suspension from Mouse Corneas

Published on: April 3, 2026

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Efficient and Scalable Directed Differentiation of Clinically Compatible Corneal Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
10:07

Efficient and Scalable Directed Differentiation of Clinically Compatible Corneal Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: October 24, 2018

Isolation and Identification of Limbal Niche Cells
10:11

Isolation and Identification of Limbal Niche Cells

Published on: October 27, 2023

A Protocol for Harvesting Single-cell Suspension from Mouse Corneas
04:50

A Protocol for Harvesting Single-cell Suspension from Mouse Corneas

Published on: April 3, 2026

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Stem Cell Biology

Background:

  • Adult corneal stem cells (SCs) reside in the limbus, a niche extensively studied for therapeutic potential.
  • Limited research exists on the human developmental origins of the limbal niche and its SCs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the developmental process of the human limbal niche and corneal stem cells from early gestation.
  • To identify early structural and cellular markers of the stem cell niche in the developing human cornea.

Main Methods:

  • Histological and immunohistochemical analyses of human fetal corneas (8.5-22 weeks gestation), neonatal, and adult specimens.
  • Explantation of fetal corneas for cell culture and characterization using molecular and cellular assays.
  • Identification and localization of stem cell-related gene expression during corneal development.

Main Results:

  • A novel "ridge-like" structure surrounding the fetal cornea was identified as a potential rudimentary stem cell niche.
  • Stem-like cells were observed throughout the fetal cornea, progressively concentrating in the ridge with advancing gestation.
  • Successful establishment of pure, long-term cultures of fetal corneal epithelium exhibiting properties similar to adult limbal SCs.

Conclusions:

  • The study reveals a distinct developmental trajectory for the human limbal niche and its stem cells.
  • The identified ridge structure represents a key embryonic precursor to the adult limbal stem cell niche.
  • Established fetal corneal epithelial cultures offer a valuable model for further research into stem cell biology and clinical applications.