Elucidation of molecular mechanism of corneal epithelial stem cells using lineage tracing analysis

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26462702
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (2015-2016); Doshisha University (2014)
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA TAKAHIRO 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (30411078)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 角膜上皮 / 上皮幹細胞 / 細胞系譜解析 / Lrig1 / 創傷治癒

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to investigate the mechanism of the homeostatic maintenance of corneal epithelial stem cells, we successfully generated leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains 1 (LRIG1) knock-in mice. Using those mice, we found that LRIG1(+) corneal epithelial stem cells are not only located in the limbal region, but also in the peripheral and central regions. Using long-term lineage tracing, we verified that quiescent corneal epithelial stem cells do exist in the limbal region. While our novel findings require further detailed examination, they may lead to a groundbreaking reconsideration of the corneal-epithelial stem-cell concept.

Free Research Field

眼科学