Limbal dermoid epithelium shares phenotypic characteristics common to both hair epidermal and limbal epithelial stem cells.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine putative limbal epithelial stem cell marker expression in human limbal dermoids compared to stem cell niches in normal limbus and hair follicles of normal human dermis. METHODS: Human limbal dermoids (n = 7), normal skin (n = 2) and normal limbal (n = 7) tissue were examined. Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin embedded specimens using automated and manual immunostaining with primary antibodies to CK15, CK14, Cadherin-P (CDH3), Wnt-3, Wnt-4, Wnt-5a, Dickkopf (DKK)-3, Sox-2, Sox-10, Sox-13, PEDF, NGFR p75 and β-catenin. RESULTS: Positive immunostaining was found for CK15, CK14, CDH3, NGFR p75, PEDF, Sox-2, Sox-10 and Wnt 4 in the basal dermoid epithelium, limb..