SPARC Promotes Self ‐Renewal of Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells and Ocular Surface Restoration through JNK and p38‐MAPK Signaling Pathways

Conclusion: SPARC promotes proliferation while suppressing spontaneous differentiation of LESCs through JNK and p38‐MAPK signaling pathways, suggesting that SPARC is a promising factor for the improvement of LESCs culture in vitro and in vivo.© AlphaMed Press 2019Significance StatementIn this study, we confirmed that secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) in proper concentration promoted proliferation while suppressed spontaneous differentiation of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) through JNK/p38 MAPK signal pathway in vitro. In corneal wound model, exogenous SPARC accelerated corneal epithelial wound healing and promoted the proliferation of p63a ‐positive cells both in limbus and in epithelial healing front. The positive function on LESCs proliferation and stemness preservation and corneal wound healing suggest SPARC as a potential agent to cure LESCs deficiency‐related diseases and a potential supplement to expand LESCs in corneal rege nerative medicine.
Source: Stem Cells - Category: Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Tissue ‐Specific Stem Cells Source Type: research