# Activation of Wnt signaling using LY-2090314 in human limbal epithelial stem cell maintenance (Faith Ampadu)

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2023 · $19,830

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LSCs) in the human corneal epithelium are the front line
of defense to maintain transparency of the cornea. Loss or dysfunction of the LSCs leads to
limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), which causes pain, inflammation, and loss of corneal
transparency in patients. Cultivated LSCs from a patient’s healthy LSCs can be transplanted
into the diseased cornea to replenish the LSCs, but maintaining sufficient LSCs and preventing
LSC differentiation in culture to allow for a successful transplant remain a major challenge in the
field. We have previously shown that activation of Wnt signaling using a Wnt mimic could
enhance the LSC expansion in culture. Additionally, canonical and noncanonical Wnt activation
operate in an integrated manner in the LSCs instead of a mutually exclusive manner as we
previously thought. In this proposal, the effect of Wnt activation using a Wnt small molecule LY-
2090314 that inhibits GSK-3β will be investigated first using a TopFlash assay. The function and
population of cultivated LSCs following LY-2090314 treatment in a dose dependent manner will
be evaluated as described using biomarkers in the parent grant. The proposed project will
further shed light on the mechanism of Wnt signaling in the regulation of LSCs. The results
could inform further development of Wnt small molecules to maximize the population of
undifferentiated LSCs in culture. The knowledge gained from the proposed project will allow
continued improvement of patient-specific LSCD treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10828288
- **Project number:** 3R01EY021797-10S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Sophie Deng
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $19,830
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2012-09-01 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10828288

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10828288, Activation of Wnt signaling using LY-2090314 in human limbal epithelial stem cell maintenance (Faith Ampadu) (3R01EY021797-10S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10828288. Licensed CC0.

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