Bi-compartmentalized stem cell organization of the corneal limbal niche

The study investigated the organization of stem cells in the corneal limbal niche using 2-photon microscopy to visualize live tissue and track single stem cell activity. Researchers identified previously unknown niche compartments, revealing that slow-cycling cells in the outer limbus form separate lineages with local clonal dynamics. In contrast, distinct stem cells in the pericorneal limbus were essential for corneal regeneration. These stem cells' progeny exited the niche and moved centripetally before terminal differentiation. The findings demonstrated that a compartmentalized stem cell organization was crucial for coordinating tissue regeneration in the cornea.