Corneal epithelial differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells generates ABCB5+ and ∆Np63α+ cells with limbal cell characteristics and high wound healing capacity
Authors
Meri Vattulainen, Tanja Ilmarinen, Taina Viheriälä, Vilma Jokinen, Heli Skottman
Institution
Tampere University
Country
Finland
Year
2021
Journal
Stem Cell Research & Therapy
Abstract
Clinically relevant LSC-like cells can be efficiently differentiated from hPSCs. The post-thaw hPSC-LSCs possess functional potency in calcium responses towards injury associated signals and in wound closure. The developmental trajectory observed during hPSC-LSC differentiation, giving rise to ABCG2+ population and further to ABCB5+ and ∆Np63α+ cells with limbal characteristics, indicates hPSC-derived cells can be utilized as a valuable cell source for the treatment of patients afflicted corneal blindness due to LSCD.
Product use
Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells towards limbal stem cells