The corneal epithelium is continuously renewed by limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSCs), a cell population harbored in a highly regulated niche located at the limbus. Dysfunction and/or loss of LSCs and their niche cause limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), a disease that is marked by invasion of conjunctival epithelium into the cornea and results in failure of epithelial wound healing. Corneal opacity, pain, loss of vision, and blindness are the consequences of LSCD. Successful treatment of LSCD depends on accurate diagnosis and staging of the disease and requires restoration of functional LSCs and their niche. This review highlights the major advances in the identification of potential LSC biomarkers and components of the LSC niche, understanding of LSC regulation, methods and regulatory standards in bioengineering of LSCs, and diagnosis and staging of LSCD. Overall, this review presents key points for researchers and clinicians alike to consider in deepening the understanding of LSC biology and improving LSCD therapies.

角膜上皮由角膜缘干/祖细胞（LSC）不断更新，LSC是角膜缘高度调控的微环境中的细胞群。LSC 及其生态位的功能障碍和/或缺失会导致角膜缘干细胞缺陷 (LSCD)，这是一种以结膜上皮侵入角膜并导致上皮伤口愈合失败为特征的疾病。角膜混浊、疼痛、视力丧失和失明是 LSCD 的后果。LSCD 的成功治疗取决于疾病的准确诊断和分期，并且需要恢复功能性 LSC 及其生态位。本综述重点介绍了潜在 LSC 生物标志物和 LSC 生态位组成部分的识别、LSC 监管的理解、LSC 生物工程的方法和监管标准以及 LSCD 的诊断和分期方面的主要进展。总的来说，这篇综述提出了研究人员和临床医生在加深对 LSC 生物学的理解和改进 LSCD 疗法时需要考虑的关键点。