Aim: Limbal cultures restore the corneal epithelium in patients with ocular burns. We investigated the biological parameters instrumental for their clinical success. Methods: We report a long-term multicenter prospective study on 152 patients carrying corneal destruction due to severe ocular burns, treated with autologous limbal cells cultured on fibrin and clinical-grade 3T3-J2 feeder cells. Clinical results were statistically evaluated both by parametric and nonparametric methods. Results: Clinical outcomes were scored as full success, partial success and failure in 66.05, 19.14 and 14.81% of eyes, respectively. The total number of clonogenic cells, colony size, growth rate and presence of conjunctival cells could not predict clinical results. Instead, the clinical data provided conclusive evidence that graft quality and likelihood of a successful outcome rely on an accurate evaluation of the number of stem cells detected before transplantation as holoclones expressing high levels of the p63 transcription factor. No adverse effects related to the feeder layer have been observed and the regenerated epithelium was completely devoid of any 3T3-J2 contamination. Conclusion: Cultures of limbal stem cells can be safely used to successfully treat massive destruction of the human cornea. We emphasize the importance of a discipline for defining the suitability and the quality of cultured epithelial grafts, which are relevant to the future clinical use of any cultured cell type.

Biological parameters determining the clinical outcome of autologous cultures of limbal stem cells / Graziella, Pellegrini; Paolo, Rama; Stanislav, Matuska; Lambiase, Alessandro; Stefano, Bonini; Augusto, Pocobelli; Rossella Gisoldi, Colabelli; Spadea, Leopoldo; Romina, Fasciani; Emilio, Balestrazzi; Paolo, Vinciguerra; Pietro, Rosetta; Achille, Tortori; Marco, Nardi; Giovanna, Gabbriellini; Carlo E., Traverso; Claudio, Macaluso; Lorena, Losi; Antonio, Percesepe; Beatrice, Venturi; Francesca, Corradini; Athanasios, Panaras; Antonio Di, Rocco; Paolo, Guatelli; Michele De, Luca. - In: REGENERATIVE MEDICINE. - ISSN 1746-0751. - STAMPA. - 8:5(2013), pp. 553-567. [10.2217/rme.13.43]

Biological parameters determining the clinical outcome of autologous cultures of limbal stem cells

LAMBIASE, ALESSANDRO;SPADEA, LEOPOLDO;
2013

Abstract

Aim: Limbal cultures restore the corneal epithelium in patients with ocular burns. We investigated the biological parameters instrumental for their clinical success. Methods: We report a long-term multicenter prospective study on 152 patients carrying corneal destruction due to severe ocular burns, treated with autologous limbal cells cultured on fibrin and clinical-grade 3T3-J2 feeder cells. Clinical results were statistically evaluated both by parametric and nonparametric methods. Results: Clinical outcomes were scored as full success, partial success and failure in 66.05, 19.14 and 14.81% of eyes, respectively. The total number of clonogenic cells, colony size, growth rate and presence of conjunctival cells could not predict clinical results. Instead, the clinical data provided conclusive evidence that graft quality and likelihood of a successful outcome rely on an accurate evaluation of the number of stem cells detected before transplantation as holoclones expressing high levels of the p63 transcription factor. No adverse effects related to the feeder layer have been observed and the regenerated epithelium was completely devoid of any 3T3-J2 contamination. Conclusion: Cultures of limbal stem cells can be safely used to successfully treat massive destruction of the human cornea. We emphasize the importance of a discipline for defining the suitability and the quality of cultured epithelial grafts, which are relevant to the future clinical use of any cultured cell type.
2013
p63; cornea; stem cells; regenerative medicine; cell therapy; limbus; epithelium
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Biological parameters determining the clinical outcome of autologous cultures of limbal stem cells / Graziella, Pellegrini; Paolo, Rama; Stanislav, Matuska; Lambiase, Alessandro; Stefano, Bonini; Augusto, Pocobelli; Rossella Gisoldi, Colabelli; Spadea, Leopoldo; Romina, Fasciani; Emilio, Balestrazzi; Paolo, Vinciguerra; Pietro, Rosetta; Achille, Tortori; Marco, Nardi; Giovanna, Gabbriellini; Carlo E., Traverso; Claudio, Macaluso; Lorena, Losi; Antonio, Percesepe; Beatrice, Venturi; Francesca, Corradini; Athanasios, Panaras; Antonio Di, Rocco; Paolo, Guatelli; Michele De, Luca. - In: REGENERATIVE MEDICINE. - ISSN 1746-0751. - STAMPA. - 8:5(2013), pp. 553-567. [10.2217/rme.13.43]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/528636
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