Essential Role of CD63 in Maintaining Corneal Epithelial Identity in the Human Limbus
CD63 is highly expressed in the human limbus and is required for maintaining cell proliferation and the expression of corneal epithelium-specific proteins, likely through regulation of PAX6. These findings establish CD63 as a functionally important component of limbal stem cell biology and a key contributor to corneal epithelial homeostasis.
Authors
- Gabrielle Martin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0553-1287)
- Natasha Y. Frank (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8196-0449)
- Yuzuru Sasamoto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3249-8546)
- Shinri Sato (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8500-4507)
- Bruce R. Ksander (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5546-0360)
- Markus H. Frank (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1312-0488)
- Catherine Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8525-9342)
- Kosei Suzuki
Institutions
- Boston University (US)
- Edith Cowan University (AU)
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (US)
- Boston Children's Hospital (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- VA Boston Healthcare System (US)
- Boston Children's Museum (US)
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
- Published
- 2026-03-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.67.3.25
- Primary Topic
- Corneal Surgery and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Eye Bank Association of America
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear
- Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund
- University of Washington
- Japan Eye Bank Association
- National Institutes of Health
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute