国际眼科杂志2026，Vol.26Issue(1)：35-38,4.DOI:10.3980/j.issn.1672-5123.2026.1.06
角膜内皮细胞EndMT发生机制的研究进展
Advances in the mechanisms of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in corneal endothelial cell
摘要
Abstract
Corneal endothelial cells(CECs),which form the innermost cellular layer of the cornea,play a pivotal role in sustaining corneal transparency and preserving visual acuity.However,CECs are vulnerable to damage induced by a spectrum of pathological conditions or traumatic injuries.Once the density of CECs declines below a critical threshold,corneal endothelial dysfunction is precipitated,ultimately leading to corneal edema and progressive visual impairment.Penetrating keratoplasty and corneal endothelial transplantation remain the first-line therapeutic strategies for managing advanced corneal endothelial dysfunction.Nevertheless,the global shortage of donor corneas severely limits the accessibility and scalability of these surgical interventions.Consequently,regenerative medicine approaches targeting corneal endothelial repair and regeneration have emerged as a major focus of international research in ophthalmology.A key challenge in the in vitro expansion of CECs is their propensity to undergo endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EndMT).EndMT is a process of cellular phenotypic transformation,through which endothelial cells lose their intrinsic functions and acquire the characteristic features of mesenchymal cells.The EndMT significantly impedes the clinical translation of in vitro-cultured CECs for regenerative applications.In this review,the risk factors and related signaling pathways involved in EndMT were summarized,aiming to provide references for the basic research and clinical treatment of relevant diseases.关键词
角膜内皮细胞/角膜内皮间充质转化(EndMT)/细胞因子/信号通路Key words
corneal endothelial cells/endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EndMT)/cytokine/signaling pathway引用本文复制引用
Ke Hongqin,Li Lan..角膜内皮细胞EndMT发生机制的研究进展[J].国际眼科杂志,2026,26(1):35-38,4.基金项目
云南省科学技术厅——昆明医科大学联合专项项目[No.2018FE001(-010)] （-010）
云南省眼部疾病临床医学中心项目(No.2024YNLCYXZX0335) Joint Project of Applied Special Research of Kunming Medical University and Science and Technology Department of Yunnan Province[No.2018FE001(-010)] （No.2024YNLCYXZX0335）
Yunnan Provincial Clinical Medical Center for Ocular Diseases(No.2024YNLCYXZX0335) （No.2024YNLCYXZX0335）
