a restored functional cornea following transplantation of human ABCB5-positive limbal stem cells to limbal stem cell-deficient mice.Kira Lathrop, Bruce Ksander, Markus Frank, and Natasha Frank.

Boston researchers have successfully regrown human corneal tissue a feat that could potentially restore vision in the blind.

The achievement also marks one of the first times that scientists have constructed tissue using adult-derived human stem cells.

In a new study published in the journal Nature, researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute, Boston Childrens Hospital, Brigham and Womens Hospital and the VA Boston Healthcare System detailed their groundbreaking research. According to the paper, the key to the studys success revolves around a molecule known as ABCB5, which serves as a biomarker for previously elusive limbal stem cells.

Residing in the eyes limbus the border of the cornea and the whites of the eye the limbal stem cells are responsible for maintaining and recreating corneal tissue. Because of their regenerative ability, scientists have long hoped to harness these stem cells for regrowing human tissue in those with blindness due to corneal injury or disease.

The only problem? Theyve been rather difficult to track down.

[The corneal tissue] this is a tissue that has inherent turnover capacity; the cells are being shed and being replaced continuously, lead researcher Dr. Markus Frank, of Boston Childrens Hospital, told FoxNews.com. This capacity to restore is produced by the limbal stem cell population, and while its known that such cells exist, the identity and their exact molecular markershave not been known.

Franks lab originally discovered the crucial ABCB5 molecule over 10 years ago, finding that it was present in skin and intestine precursor cells. But more recently, his team revealed that ABCB5 was also an important component of the eyes limbal stem cells, preventing them from undergoing apoptosis or cell death.

To further prove ABCB5s role in the eye, Frank and his team created two groups of mice ones lacking a functional ABCB5 gene and ones with a fully functioning ABCB5 gene. The mice lacking ABCB5 lost their population of limbal stem cells and were unable to repair injuries to their corneas.

When we found thiswe thought if we could enrich or isolate these ABCB5-positive cells and transplant them, they should be able to cure corneal disease, Frank said.

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Researchers regrow corneas using adult human stem cells ...

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