The cornea is a transparent tissue that serves as the main refractive element of the eye ball.Limbal epithelial stem cells(LESCs), residing in the basal epithelial layer of the Palisades of Vogt located in the corneal limbus between cornea and scleral, are believed to be crucial for the continuous turnover of the corneal epithelium. The proliferation, migration, and differentiation of the LESCs are modulated by unique physical and chemical futures contained within the microenvironment known as the limbal niche. This niche, composed of nerve terminals, cells, extracellular matrix, vasculature, and signaling molecules, is the home for processe such as proliferation, migration and differentiation. Corneal nerve terminals possess special anatomical structures in the limbal region and basal epithelial cells, and they demonstrate pivotal biological effects in the regulation of the LESC function and corneal epithelium homeostasis. Biological molecules such as neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and neurotrophic factors play a crucial role in modulating the LESCs phenotype responsible for corneal epithelium homeostasis. This paper will review recent studies on how these nerve derived molecules function in this process and provide clear orientations for future research.
