# The role of BCAM-positive cells in central cornea, limbus and conjunctiva

> **NIH NIH R01** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · 2024 · $753,189

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
A transparent cornea that maintains its architecture and refracts light is essential for visual acuity. Despite
advances in corneal wound healing, individuals may develop blindness from scarring due to mechanical trauma,
while others may experience a decline in the quality of light they perceive due to dry eye diseases, diabetic
keratopathy, and neurotrophic diseases. Improper healing after corneal injury can result in decreased visual
acuity, photophobia, pain, tearing, and ulcerations. Severe, treatment-resistant corneal epithelial defects include
persistent corneal epithelial defect, estimated to cause 100,000 cases/year in the US, and recurrent corneal
erosion, estimated to cause 4.23 cases/10,000 person-years. Novel treatments for corneal epithelial defects are
urgently needed. The corneal epithelium is maintained by stem cells residing at the edge of the cornea in the
limbus. These cells, known as limbal stem cells, give rise to basal epithelial progenitor cells, which migrate toward
the central cornea and play a role in differentiation and stratification of the corneal epithelium to support
homeostasis. A recent mouse lineage tracing study demonstrated that basal epithelial cell migration from the
limbus is the initial step in central corneal wound healing, indicating that abnormal basal cell migration likely
contributes to persistent corneal epithelial defects. In addition, studies have shown that disruption of extracellular
matrix regulation, including the basement membrane, and focal adhesion molecules may be involved in recurrent
corneal erosion. Thus, basal epithelial cells and their interaction with the surrounding microenvironment play an
important role in maintaining a healthy corneal epithelium. We suggest that a critical balance in the heterogeneity
of basal epithelial cells is required to support homeostasis and wound healing. Our objective is to identify novel
therapeutic targets for corneal epithelial defects by revealing the differential roles of basal epithelial cells in the
central cornea, limbus, and conjunctiva in corneal health and wound repair. We hypothesize that basal epithelial
cells on the ocular surface have a specific molecular phenotype dependent on their location (central corneal,
limbal, or conjunctival) and that the cells in each location differently contribute to homeostasis and wound healing
of the corneal epithelium. The proposed study will test this hypothesis by pursuing the following aims. In Aim 1,
we will reveal the precise heterogeneity of ocular surface basal epithelial cells and the mechanism underlying
the transition from a limbal to central corneal cell phenotype. In Aim 2, we will determine the functional roles of
genes expressed in basal epithelial cells in the central cornea. In Aim 3, we will determine the functional roles of
genes expressed in basal epithelial cells in the limbus/conjunctiva. Our ultimate goal is to reveal the roles of
each of the basal epithelial cel...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10942472
- **Project number:** 1R01EY036399-01
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- **Principal Investigator:** Yuzuru Sasamoto
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $753,189
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10942472

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10942472, The role of BCAM-positive cells in central cornea, limbus and conjunctiva (1R01EY036399-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10942472. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*