Cell Therapeutics for Corneal Diseases

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2025 | Viewed by 902

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce this Special Issue focused on “Cell Therapeutics for Corneal Diseases,” and we invite submissions of original research, comprehensive reviews, and clinical studies related to this evolving field. This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in cell-based therapies for treating various corneal conditions. We are particularly interested in research exploring the application of different types of stem cells, such as limbal stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, in corneal repair and regeneration. Additionally, contributions that discuss innovative gene editing, molecular interventions, and engineering techniques are highly encouraged. This Special Issue will also feature reports on recent preclinical and clinical studies examining the effectiveness of cell-based applications in corneal conditions.

Authors are asked to follow Cells’s submission guidelines, which can be found on our website. For further information or inquiries, please contact the Special Issue Guest Editor or a journal representative. We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions that will advance the field of cell therapeutics in the treatment of corneal diseases.

Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Karamichos
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • cell therapies
  • corneal diseases
  • drug development
  • tissue engineering
  • stem cells
  • regeneration
  • tissue repair

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 2449 KiB  
Article
Decreased Circulating Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Associated with Keratoconus
by Paulina Escandon, Alexander J. Choi, Steve Mabry, Sarah E. Nicholas, Rebecca L. Cunningham, Liam Redden, David A. Murphy, Kamran M. Riaz, Tina B. McKay and Dimitrios Karamichos
Cells 2024, 13(20), 1704; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13201704 - 15 Oct 2024
Viewed by 751
Abstract
Keratoconus (KC) is a corneal thinning dystrophy that leads to visual impairment. While the cause of KC remains poorly understood, changes in sex hormone levels have been correlated with KC development. This study investigated circulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in control and KC subjects [...] Read more.
Keratoconus (KC) is a corneal thinning dystrophy that leads to visual impairment. While the cause of KC remains poorly understood, changes in sex hormone levels have been correlated with KC development. This study investigated circulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in control and KC subjects to determine if this master hormone regulator is linked to the KC pathology. Plasma and saliva were collected from KC subjects (n = 227 and n = 274, respectively) and non-KC controls (n = 58 and n = 101, respectively), in concert with patient demographics and clinical features. GnRH levels in both plasma and saliva were significantly lower in KC subjects compared to controls. This finding was retained in plasma when subjects were stratified based on age, sex, and KC severity. Control and KC corneal fibroblasts (HKCs) stimulated with recombinant GnRH protein in vitro revealed significantly increased luteinizing hormone receptor by HKCs and reduced expression of α-smooth muscle actin with treatment suggesting that GnRH may modulate hormonal and fibrotic responses in the KC corneal stroma. Further studies are needed to reveal the role of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis in the onset and progression of KC and to explore this pathway as a novel therapeutic target. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Therapeutics for Corneal Diseases)
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