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Clonal Analysis of Limbal Epithelial Stem Cell Populations

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Corneal Regenerative Medicine

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1014))

Abstract

While convincing data clearly suggest the presence of stem cells in the basal limbal epithelium in vivo, testing the proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation capacity of stem cells relies on the development of methodologies that allow for their isolation and extensive propagation in vitro. Clonal analysis involving differentiation between short-lived transient cell clones and long-lived stem cell clones is an invaluable technique to identify stem cells in vitro, and allows cells to be expanded over multiple passages. This chapter describes a protocol for the isolation, expansion, and clonal analysis of limbal epithelial stem cells. The cultivation method described may be essential for long-term restoration of the damaged ocular surface in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency.

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Schlötzer-Schrehardt, U. (2013). Clonal Analysis of Limbal Epithelial Stem Cell Populations. In: Wright, B., Connon, C. (eds) Corneal Regenerative Medicine. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1014. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-432-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-432-6_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-431-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-432-6

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