Buccal Epithelium in treating Ocular Surface Disorders

Background - Ocular surface disorders due to limbal stem cell deficiency are an important cause of ocular morbidity and visual loss. Although autologous limbal stem cell transplants have helped in the management of unilateral disease, allografts in those with bilateral disease often fail due to immu...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Srinivas KR, Sujatha M, Mohan R, Senthilnagarajan R, Baskar S, Senthil KR, Abraham S
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: GN Corporation Limited 2008-11-01
Series:Journal of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.pubstemcell.com/monthly/004010700009.htm
_version_ 1819327386571767808
author Srinivas KR
Sujatha M
Mohan R
Senthilnagarajan R
Baskar S
Senthil KR
Abraham S
author_facet Srinivas KR
Sujatha M
Mohan R
Senthilnagarajan R
Baskar S
Senthil KR
Abraham S
author_sort Srinivas KR
collection DOAJ
description Background - Ocular surface disorders due to limbal stem cell deficiency are an important cause of ocular morbidity and visual loss. Although autologous limbal stem cell transplants have helped in the management of unilateral disease, allografts in those with bilateral disease often fail due to immunological reasons. The use of autologous buccal epithelium cultivated on amniotic membrane has been described as a useful approach in the management of this condition. It is the purpose of this study to explore the feasibility of using a novel thermo-gelatin polymer (TGP) as a substrate to culture these cells, and to characterize them using RNA extraction and RT-PCR. Methods - Oral cheek mucosal biopsies were obtained from 5 adult patients undergoing Modified Osteo-Odonto Keratoprosthesis surgery. The specimens were transported to the laboratory in transport medium. The cells were released using enzymatic digestion and seeded in both convention culture medium and TGP. The resulting cellular growth was characterized using RNA extraction and RT-PCR. Results - Cells could be cultured from 4 of the 5 specimens. In one specimen, contamination occurred and this was discarded. In the other specimens, the cheek epithelial cells could be cultured in both the conventional culture medium and TGP, with equal ease. RT-PCR revealed the presence of K3, a marker for epithelial cells, and GAPDH indicating the presence of some adipose tissue as well. Conclusions - It is possible to culture autologous cheek mucosal epithelial cells using TGP, a synthetic scaffold, without the need for other biological substrates. Since the specimens are obtained from the oral cavity, stringent asepsis is required. Further studies are required for histopathological characterization of the cultured cells and to create a model for delivery onto the ocular surface of eyes with bilateral surface disease due to limbal stem cell deficiency.
first_indexed 2024-12-24T13:10:01Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0c3dde155bd248a7bfede188cc673133
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0973-7154
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-24T13:10:01Z
publishDate 2008-11-01
publisher GN Corporation Limited
record_format Article
series Journal of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
spelling doaj.art-0c3dde155bd248a7bfede188cc6731332022-12-21T16:53:53ZengGN Corporation LimitedJournal of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine0973-71542008-11-01411819Buccal Epithelium in treating Ocular Surface DisordersSrinivas KRSujatha MMohan RSenthilnagarajan RBaskar SSenthil KRAbraham SBackground - Ocular surface disorders due to limbal stem cell deficiency are an important cause of ocular morbidity and visual loss. Although autologous limbal stem cell transplants have helped in the management of unilateral disease, allografts in those with bilateral disease often fail due to immunological reasons. The use of autologous buccal epithelium cultivated on amniotic membrane has been described as a useful approach in the management of this condition. It is the purpose of this study to explore the feasibility of using a novel thermo-gelatin polymer (TGP) as a substrate to culture these cells, and to characterize them using RNA extraction and RT-PCR. Methods - Oral cheek mucosal biopsies were obtained from 5 adult patients undergoing Modified Osteo-Odonto Keratoprosthesis surgery. The specimens were transported to the laboratory in transport medium. The cells were released using enzymatic digestion and seeded in both convention culture medium and TGP. The resulting cellular growth was characterized using RNA extraction and RT-PCR. Results - Cells could be cultured from 4 of the 5 specimens. In one specimen, contamination occurred and this was discarded. In the other specimens, the cheek epithelial cells could be cultured in both the conventional culture medium and TGP, with equal ease. RT-PCR revealed the presence of K3, a marker for epithelial cells, and GAPDH indicating the presence of some adipose tissue as well. Conclusions - It is possible to culture autologous cheek mucosal epithelial cells using TGP, a synthetic scaffold, without the need for other biological substrates. Since the specimens are obtained from the oral cavity, stringent asepsis is required. Further studies are required for histopathological characterization of the cultured cells and to create a model for delivery onto the ocular surface of eyes with bilateral surface disease due to limbal stem cell deficiency.http://www.pubstemcell.com/monthly/004010700009.htmProceedings of Annual Symposium on Regenerative Medicine
spellingShingle Srinivas KR
Sujatha M
Mohan R
Senthilnagarajan R
Baskar S
Senthil KR
Abraham S
Buccal Epithelium in treating Ocular Surface Disorders
Journal of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
Proceedings of Annual Symposium on Regenerative Medicine
title Buccal Epithelium in treating Ocular Surface Disorders
title_full Buccal Epithelium in treating Ocular Surface Disorders
title_fullStr Buccal Epithelium in treating Ocular Surface Disorders
title_full_unstemmed Buccal Epithelium in treating Ocular Surface Disorders
title_short Buccal Epithelium in treating Ocular Surface Disorders
title_sort buccal epithelium in treating ocular surface disorders
topic Proceedings of Annual Symposium on Regenerative Medicine
url http://www.pubstemcell.com/monthly/004010700009.htm
work_keys_str_mv AT srinivaskr buccalepitheliumintreatingocularsurfacedisorders
AT sujatham buccalepitheliumintreatingocularsurfacedisorders
AT mohanr buccalepitheliumintreatingocularsurfacedisorders
AT senthilnagarajanr buccalepitheliumintreatingocularsurfacedisorders
AT baskars buccalepitheliumintreatingocularsurfacedisorders
AT senthilkr buccalepitheliumintreatingocularsurfacedisorders
AT abrahams buccalepitheliumintreatingocularsurfacedisorders