Keratin Expression by Corneal and Limbal Stem Cells During Development

The study reviewed the expression patterns of keratins in corneal and limbal stem cells during development, highlighting the role of keratins in providing structural support and stability to epithelial cells. It was found that limbal stem cells (LSCs) in humans express both K5/K14 or K8/K18 and K8/K19 intermediate filaments (IF), indicating the presence of two LSC populations. These cells can differentiate into limbal suprabasal cells expressing K3/K12 IF or migrate to become corneal basal cells co-expressing K3/K12 and K5/K14 before further differentiation. The study emphasized the importance of keratin expression in maintaining ocular surface tissue functions and noted that mutations in keratin genes can lead to pathologies such as Meesmann's corneal dystrophy.