Research Progress on the Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Towards Corneal Cells
LI Ling, HUANG Yan, WU Yuanyuan, WANG Qiuping, JI Jing*, WANG Lizhen*, FAN Yubo
As the transparent refractive tissue at the front of the eyeball, the cornea serves as a critical barrier for vision. The structural integrity of the corneal epithelium, stroma, and endothelium is essential for maintaining normal visual function. Although corneal transplantation is a vital treatment for corneal diseases, its clinical implementation and application face significant challenges due to donor shortages and immune rejection. MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells), with their self-renewal, immunomodulatory, and multipotent differentiation capabilities, exhibit unique advantages in corneal regeneration and provide novel therapeutic strategies for the repair of corneal tissues across all layers. This review aims to systematically summarize the induction methods for the directional differentiation of MSCs into corneal epithelial cells, corneal keratocytes cells, and corneal endothelial cells, providing references for fundamental research and clinical translation in corneal tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
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