The vertebrate corneal epithelium: from early specification to constant renewal.

Background: The cornea is an ectodermal/neural crest derivative formed through a cascade of molecular mechanisms to give rise to the specific optical features necessary for its refractory function. Moreover, during cornea formation and maturation, epithelial stem cells are sequestered to ensure a constant source for renewal in the adult.

Results: Recent progress in the molecular and stem cell biology of corneal morphogenesis and renewal shows that it can serves as a paradigm for epithelial /mesenchymal organ biology.