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Eye Disorders Caused by Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency

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Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 5

Part of the book series: Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells ((STEM,volume 5))

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Abstract

By the evolution of science, the basis of disorders has been located at a particular subject, stem cell. It seems that radical therapies for diseases in the near future would be achieved by treatment strategies targeting stem cells. Nowadays, therefore, scientists have turned their interest and effort towards stem cell. Among stem cells limbal stem cell is of utmost importance, because with its biological properties and its native environment (corneal limbus) it provides a unique opportunity to study in detail the adult stem cells in physiological conditions as well as in disease. This chapter summarizes the current state of knowledge on limbal stem cells, molecular markers that may help to identify these cells and biological properties that could maintain their stemness, and based on these knowledge reviews the disease states that may cause limbal stem cell deficiency with a special emphasis on Dyskeratosis congenita which is an inherited stem cell disorder. The current management options for limbal stem cell deficiency are also summarized.

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Correspondence to Deniz Aslan .

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Aslan, D., Akata, R.F. (2012). Eye Disorders Caused by Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 5. Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2900-1_17

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