AI Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how exosomes from corneal epithelial cells influence wound healing and fibrosis in the corneal stroma.
- Researchers observed exosome-like vesicles during corneal wound healing, confirming their presence after surgical removal of epithelial layers.
- Findings suggest that these exosomes facilitate communication between epithelial cells and keratocytes, promoting myofibroblast transformation and endothelial cell growth, indicating their potential for therapeutic targeting in corneal healing.
Article Abstract
Specific factors from the corneal epithelium underlying the stimulation of stromal fibrosis and myofibroblast formation in corneal wound healing have not been fully elucidated. Given that exosomes are known to transfer bioactive molecules among cells and play crucial roles in wound healing, angiogenesis, and cancer, we hypothesized that corneal epithelial cell-derived exosomes may gain access to the underlying stromal fibroblasts upon disruption of the epithelial basement membrane and that they induce signaling events essential for corneal wound healing. In the present study, exosome-like vesicles were observed between corneal epithelial cells and the stroma during wound healing after corneal epithelial debridement. These vesicles were also found in the stroma following anterior stromal keratectomy, in which surgical removal of the epithelium, basement membrane, and anterior stroma was performed. Exosomes secreted by mouse corneal epithelial cells were found to fuse to keratocytes in vitro and to induce myofibroblast transformation. In addition, epithelial cell-derived exosomes induced endothelial cell proliferation and ex vivo aortic ring sprouting. Our results indicate that epithelial cell-derived exosomes mediate communication between corneal epithelial cells and corneal keratocytes as well as vascular endothelial cells. These findings demonstrate that epithelial-derived exosomes may be involved in corneal wound healing and neovascularization, and thus, may serve as targets for potential therapeutic interventions.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5292698 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep40548 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Destructive and Protective Effects and Therapeutic Targets of IL-36 Family Cytokines in Dry Eye Disease.
Ocul Surf
January 2025
Ocular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030 United States. Electronic address:
Purpose: To explore the destructive and protective effects and therapeutic targets of IL-36 cytokines in dry eye disease using a murine dry eye model.
Methods: A dry eye model was established in C57BL/6 mice exposed to desiccating stress (DS) with untreated mice as controls. A topical challenge model was performed in normal mice with exogenous rmIL-36α, rhIL-38 and 2% ectoine, or PBS vehicle.
Y-27632 and dual media culture approach promote the construction and transplantation of rabbit limbal epithelial cell sheets via cell spheroid culture and auto-bioprinting.
Acta Biomater
January 2025
Ophthalmology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Institute of Ophthalmology, Medical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Aier School of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, China. Electronic address:
The shortage of corneal donors and the limitations in tissue engineering grafts, such as biocompatibility and mechanical properties, pose significant challenges in corneal transplantation. Here, for the first time, we investigate the effect of Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 and a dual media culture approach, including proliferative media (M1) and stabilizing media (M2), on rabbit limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs), aiming to explore the feasibility of constructing corneal cell sheets in vitro through auto-bioprinting and assessing their corneal wound healing capacity in vivo. Y-27632 has primarily demonstrated significantly enhanced LESCs growth, proliferation, and reduced apoptosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF3D Printed Biomimetic Bilayer Limbal Implants for regeneration of the Corneal Structure in Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency.
Acta Biomater
January 2025
Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100005, China. Electronic address:
Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) causes vision loss and is often treated by simple corneal epithelial cell transplantation with poor long-term efficiency. Here, we present a biomimetic bilayer limbal implant using digital light processing 3D printing technology with gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) bioinks containing corneal epithelial cells (CECs) and corneal stromal stem cells (CSSCs), which can transplant CECs and improve the limbal niche simultaneously. The GelMA/PEGDA hydrogel possessed robust mechanical properties to support surgical transplantation and had good transparency, suitable swelling and degradation rate as a corneal implant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnhancing Corneal Sensitivity in Diabetic Patients Through an Innovative Ophthalmic Solution: In Vivo and Vitro Results.
J Clin Med
January 2025
Department of Sciences, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
: Diabetes is a well-recognised factor inducing a plethora of corneal alterations ranging from dry eye to reduced corneal sensibility, epithelial defects, and reduced cicatrisation. This cohort study aimed to assess the efficacy of a novel ophthalmic solution combining cross-linked hyaluronic acid (CHA), chondroitin sulfate (CS), and inositol (INS) in managing diabetes-induced corneal alterations. Specifically, it evaluated the solution's impact on the tear breakup time (TBUT), the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and corneal sensitivity after three months of treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransdifferentiation of rat keratinocyte progenitors to corneal epithelial cells by limbal niche via the STAT3/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Stem Cell Res Ther
January 2025
Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei Province, China.
Purpose: To develop a method for enriching keratinocyte progenitor cells (KPCs) and establish a limbal niche (LN)-mediated transdifferentiation protocol of KPCs into corneal epithelial cells.
Methods: Limbal niche cells (LNCs) were isolated from limbal tissues through enzymatic digestion and characterized. Conditioned medium from LNCs cultures was collected.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!