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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Isolation and Identification of Limbal Niche Cells

Isolation and Identification of Limbal Niche Cells

Published on: October 27, 2023

Vitronectin: a matrix support factor for human limbal epithelial progenitor cells.

Timothy Jerome Echevarria¹, Sharron Chow, Stephanie Watson

¹Inflammation and Infection Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science

|September 8, 2011

Summary

Vitronectin (VN) on contact lenses (CLs) supports limbal stem cell (SC) activity, crucial for corneal regeneration in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency.

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Adenoviral Gene Therapy for Diabetic Keratopathy: Effects on Wound Healing and Stem Cell Marker Expression in Human Organ-cultured Corneas and Limbal Epithelial Cells

Adenoviral Gene Therapy for Diabetic Keratopathy: Effects on Wound Healing and Stem Cell Marker Expression in Human Organ-cultured Corneas and Limbal Epithelial Cells

Published on: April 7, 2016

Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Regenerative Medicine
Proteomics

Background:

Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) impairs corneal healing.
A novel therapy uses expanded ocular surface stem cells (SCs) on therapeutic contact lenses (CLs) for LSCD treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify proteins binding to CLs used in SC therapy.
To determine if these proteins and transplanted SCs are vital for corneal repair.

Main Methods:

Proteomic analysis of serum-exposed CLs.
Immunohistochemical localization of vitronectin (VN) on ocular surfaces.
In vitro and organ culture models to assess cell transfer and corneal wound healing.

Main Results:

Vitronectin (VN) was identified as a key serum protein binding to CLs.
VN promotes SC proliferation and colony formation.
Cell transfer from CLs to wounded corneas was dependent on VN and its receptor.

Conclusions:

VN in the limbal basement membrane supports SC activity.
VN on CLs facilitates corneal regeneration by supporting progenitor cells.
This finding highlights VN's role in the therapeutic potential of SC-loaded CLs.