角膜缘干细胞识别的研究进展

角膜干细胞存在于角巩膜缘被人们所认识已有20年了。随着对角膜缘干细胞研究的深入，发现其对角膜的完整性及功能至关重要。正常情况下角膜缘干细胞具有上皮屏障的作用，能阻止结膜上皮及血管向角膜内生长。角膜缘干细胞缺乏将导致各种眼表功能异常。角膜缘干细胞的定位和分离，对临床上应用角膜缘干细胞移植治疗各种眼表异常具有重要意义。就国内外对角膜缘干细胞识别的研究做一综述。

Identification of limbal stem cell

The concept that corneal epithelium stem cells reside in limbus has been recognized for more than a decade years. Further intensive researching have revealed that limbal stem cells are very important for corneal growth and function. Under normal conditions,limbal stem cells have protective screen function for cornea, and they can prevent conjunctival epithelium and new blood vessel from growing to cornea. The lack of limbal stem cells results in many abnormalities of ocular surface function. Limbal stem cells have been used to therapy of ocular surface diseases by their transplantation and culture, and the identification and isolation of these cells will be crucial during these procedures. Presently, limbal stem cell can be identified by three main method. First, BrdU incorporate slow-cycle cell in vivo or in culture system in vitro. These cells are called label-retaining cells,or stem cells. Second,the colony formation ability of cell in vitro is analyzed. Last, the marker of limbal stem cell can be erplored. The research progress in the marker of limbal stem cell at national and international level is summarized.