Transcript the role of corneal epithelial stem in health and

Maintaining the ocular surface of the eye: the role of
corneal epithelial stem cells in health and disease
Mary Ann Stepp, Ph. D.
Professor
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and of Ophthalmology
How are the corneal epithelial stem cells maintained
throughout our lifetime within their niche at the limbus
despite all the insults the ocular surface is forced to endure?
Some problems that can arise on the ocular surface…
After PRK
Recurrent
Erosion
Corneal Epithelial
Stem Cell Deficiency
(CESCD)
Some problems that can arise on the ocular surface…
After PRK
Recurrent
Erosion
Corneal Epithelial
Stem Cell Deficiency
(CESCD)
Development of mouse model for the study
of these conditions
QuickTime™ and a
Cinepak decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
4 integrin whole mount
The cornea is optically well
suited for microscopic analysis
QuickTime™ and a
Cinepak decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
4 integrin whole mount
The cornea is optically well
suited for microscopic analysis
To get at the mechanism of these affects, we have a cell
culture model we are using to study cell adhesion and
migration.
QuickTime™ and a
Cinepak decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
To get at the mechanism of these affects, we have a cell
culture model we are using to study cell adhesion and
migration.
To get at the mechanism of these affects, we have a cell
culture model we are using to study cell adhesion and
migration.
Many important questions remain but we believe we have a
model system that continues to give us new insight into the how
cell adhesion regulates the stem cell niche.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!