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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

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

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

Published on: October 24, 2018

The human limbus functions as an instructive epithelial transition zone.

Natasha Frank¹, Yuzuru Sasamoto², Yoshiko Fukuda³

¹Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Research Square

|July 3, 2026

Summary

The adult human limbus is not a rigid barrier but an instructive zone. Limbal stem cells are bipotent, guided by growth factors like KGF and EGF to adopt corneal or conjunctival fates.

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Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

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

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Corneal and Limbal Alkali Injury Induction Using a Punch-Trephine Technique in a Mouse Model

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Published on: August 4, 2023

Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Stem Cell Biology
Epithelial Biology

Background:

The limbus was traditionally viewed as a barrier enforcing corneal identity via limbal stem cells.
Conjunctivalization of the cornea was considered a failure of this lineage barrier.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functional role of the adult human limbus in epithelial cell fate determination.
To redefine the boundary and mechanisms governing corneal and conjunctival epithelial identity.

Main Methods:

Integrated single-cell transcriptomics and spatial mapping of the limbus.
Clonal functional analysis of limbal basal progenitors.
Mechanistic studies involving keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF).

Main Results:

The limbus acts as a dynamic epithelial transition zone, not a rigid boundary.
Limbal basal progenitors are intrinsically bipotent, capable of forming corneal or conjunctival epithelium.
KGF and EGF act as molecular switches, with KGF promoting corneal fate (via PAX6/MYC) and EGF sustaining conjunctival identity.

Conclusions:

The adult human limbus is a fate-determining niche that instructs epithelial identity.
Epithelial identity in adult human tissues remains plastic and instructable.
Growth factor signaling (KGF/EGF) is crucial for maintaining the conjunctival-corneal interface homeostasis.