Epidermal adult stem cells (EpiASCs) have the potential for unlimited proliferation and differentiation, however, the ability of these stem cells to activate corneal genetic programs in response to corneal stroma stimulation needs to be further validated. Herein, a feasible strategy was developed to reconstruct the damaged corneal surface in a goat model with total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) by transplanting EpiASCs, which had been explanted and cultured from the skin of an adult ram goat and were then purified by selecting single cell-derived clones and cultivating them on a denuded human amniotic membrane (HAM). These artificial tissues were then successfully transplanted into ewe goats with total LSCD. Binding of EpiASCs to the base membrane of an EpiASCs-HAM-Sheet (EHS) indicated their proliferating status. After transplantation, the EpiASCs could survive in the host tissue and they reconstructed the damaged ocular surface of total LSCD. The crystal reconstructed corneal epithelium expressed CK3 and Pax-6 similar to normal corneal epithelium and expressed the Sry gene after transplantation. These results demonstrated that EpiASCs could be induced to differentiate into corneal epithelial cell types in a corneal microenvironment and had the ability to activate corneal genetic programs. This work offer a foundation for promoting tissue-engineered cornea into clinical application.

中文翻译：

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山羊表皮成年干细胞重建总LSCD受损眼表并激活角膜遗传程序的能力。

表皮成年干细胞（EpiASC）具有无限增殖和分化的潜力，但是，这些干细胞响应角膜基质刺激而激活角膜遗传程序的能力需要进一步验证。本文提出了一种可行的策略，通过移植成年公羊山羊皮肤进行培养并随后通过选择纯化的EpiASCs来移植具有全角膜缘干细胞缺乏症（LSCD）的山羊模型，以重建受损的角膜表面。单细胞来源的克隆，并在裸露的人羊膜（HAM）上进行培养。然后将这些人工组织成功移植到总LSCD的母羊山羊中。EpiASCs与EpiASCs-HAM-Sheet（EHS）的基膜的结合表明它们的增殖状态。移植后 EpiASCs可以在宿主组织中存活，并且可以重建整个LSCD的受损眼表。晶体重建的角膜上皮表达与正常角膜上皮相似的CK3和Pax-6，并在移植后表达Sry基因。这些结果表明，在角膜微环境中可以诱导EpiASCs分化为角膜上皮细胞类型，并具有激活角膜遗传程序的能力。这项工作为促进组织工程角膜进入临床提供了基础。这些结果表明，在角膜微环境中可以诱导EpiASCs分化为角膜上皮细胞类型，并具有激活角膜遗传程序的能力。这项工作为促进组织工程角膜进入临床提供了基础。这些结果表明，在角膜微环境中可以诱导EpiASCs分化为角膜上皮细胞类型，并具有激活角膜遗传程序的能力。这项工作为促进组织工程角膜进入临床提供了基础。