Low Fucosylation Defines the Glycocalyx of Progenitor Cells and Melanocytes in the Human Limbal Stem Cell Niche

The study explores the role of low fucosylation in the human limbal stem cell niche, focusing on limbal progenitor epithelial cells and melanocytes. It finds that these cells exhibit low fucosylation, linked to high clonogenic capacity and stem cell marker expression. The GDP-fucose de novo pathway is less active in these cells, suggesting reduced fucosylation supports stem cell maintenance. Inhibiting fucosylation with 2F-peracetyl-fucose enhances the proliferative potential of limbal epithelial cells, indicating potential therapeutic applications for cell expansion and corneal surface restoration. The findings have led to a provisional patent application for fucosylation inhibitors as a treatment for ocular diseases.