Review: Mesenchymal stem cells and corneal reconstruction

Corneal reconstruction is among the most effective methods for curing corneal injury due to various clinical disorders. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of multipotent cells distributed in various tissues, which can be easily isolated and expanded in vitro. MSCs are self-renewable and have the potential to transdifferentiate into other type of cells under certain conditions. More recently, the modulating angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties of MSCs have been confirmed in animal models. The potential roles of MSCs are valuable for corneal reconstruction. Thus, in this review, we summarized the current understanding of the possible roles of MSCs in corneal reconstruction.