ABCB5+ Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells Inhibit Developmental but Promote Inflammatory (Lymph) Angiogenesis While Preventing Corneal Inflammation.

ABSTRACT: The limbus, the vascularized junction between the cornea and conjunctiva, is thought to function as a barrier against corneal neovascularization. However, the exact mechanisms regulating this remain unknown. In this study, the limbal epithelial stem cell (LESC) marker ABCB5 was used to investigate the role of LESCs in corneal neovascularization. In an ABCB5KO model, a mild but significant increase of limbal lymphatic and blood vascular network complexity was observed in developing mice (4 weeks) but not in adult mice. Conversely, when using a cornea suture model, the WT animals exhibited a mild but significant increase in the number of lymphatic vessel sprouts compared to the ABCB5KO, suggesting a contextual anti-lymphangiogenic effect of ABCB5 on the limbal vasculature during development,

SUBMITTER: Meshko B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10341195 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature