{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T21:59:33Z","timestamp":1790287173622,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":83,"publisher":"Elsevier BV","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782864000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.elsevier.com\/tdm\/userlicense\/1.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782864000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.elsevier.com\/legal\/tdmrep-license"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782864000000},"content-version":"stm-asf","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15223\/policy-017"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782864000000},"content-version":"stm-asf","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15223\/policy-037"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782864000000},"content-version":"stm-asf","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15223\/policy-012"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782864000000},"content-version":"stm-asf","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15223\/policy-029"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782864000000},"content-version":"stm-asf","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15223\/policy-004"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["clinicalkey.com","clinicalkey.com.au","clinicalkey.es","clinicalkey.fr","clinicalkey.jp","elsevier.com","sciencedirect.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["The Ocular Surface"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]},"DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,7]],"date-time":"2026-04-07T23:31:40Z","timestamp":1775604700000},"page":"1-14","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/elsevier_cm_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"special_numbering":"C","title":["Melanocytes as key cells of the limbal stem cell niche: Roles in ocular surface homeostasis, disease, and regenerative therapy"],"prefix":"10.1016","volume":"41","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8669-0388","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Naresh","family":"Polisetti","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ratnika","family":"Sharma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Virender Singh","family":"Sangwan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ursula","family":"Schl\u00f6tzer-Schrehardt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Thomas","family":"Reinhard","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"G\u00fcnther","family":"Schlunck","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"78","reference":[{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"639","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1751-1097.2008.00316.x","article-title":"Role of ocular melanin in ophthalmic physiology and pathology","volume":"84","author":"Hu","year":"2008","journal-title":"Photochem Photobiol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"305","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo.18.6.305","article-title":"Certain clinical features of the normal limbus","volume":"18","author":"Graves","year":"1934","journal-title":"Br J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1016\/0092-8674(89)90958-6","article-title":"Existence of slow-cycling limbal epithelial basal cells that can be preferentially stimulated to proliferate: implications on epithelial stem cells","volume":"57","author":"Cotsarelis","year":"1989","journal-title":"Cell"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.cr.7310137","article-title":"Niche regulation of corneal epithelial stem cells at the limbus","volume":"17","author":"Li","year":"2007","journal-title":"Cell Res"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib5","first-page":"155","article-title":"Limbal palisades of vogt","volume":"80","author":"Goldberg","year":"1982","journal-title":"Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1402","DOI":"10.1634\/stemcells.2006-0580","article-title":"Characterization of the limbal epithelial stem cell niche: novel imaging techniques permit in vivo observation and targeted biopsy of limbal epithelial stem cells","volume":"25","author":"Shortt","year":"2007","journal-title":"Stem Cells Dayt Ohio"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"322","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2016.04.002","article-title":"Anatomical features and cell-cell interactions in the human limbal epithelial stem cell niche","volume":"14","author":"Dziasko","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ocul Surf"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.1002\/stem.794","article-title":"Limbal epithelial stem cells: role of the niche microenvironment","volume":"30","author":"Ordonez","year":"2012","journal-title":"Stem Cells Dayt Ohio"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"879","DOI":"10.3390\/jfb3040879","article-title":"Extracellular matrix is an important component of limbal stem cell niche","volume":"3","author":"Mei","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Funct Biomater"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"845","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exer.2007.08.020","article-title":"Characterization of extracellular matrix components in the limbal epithelial stem cell compartment","volume":"85","author":"Schl\u00f6tzer-Schrehardt","year":"2007","journal-title":"Exp Eye Res"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1002\/stem.2191","article-title":"Cell adhesion molecules and stem cell-niche-interactions in the limbal stem cell niche","volume":"34","author":"Polisetti","year":"2016","journal-title":"Stem Cells Dayt Ohio"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"598","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cell.2008.01.038","article-title":"Stem cells and niches: mechanisms that promote stem cell maintenance throughout life","volume":"132","author":"Morrison","year":"2008","journal-title":"Cell"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"623","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ceb.2009.05.004","article-title":"Adhesion within the stem cell niches","volume":"21","author":"Raymond","year":"2009","journal-title":"Curr Opin Cell Biol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"355","DOI":"10.1634\/stemcells.22-3-355","article-title":"Characterization of putative stem cell phenotype in human limbal epithelia","volume":"22","author":"Chen","year":"2004","journal-title":"Stem Cells Dayt Ohio"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"323","DOI":"10.1016\/j.celrep.2017.12.040","article-title":"Corneal-committed cells restore the stem cell pool and tissue boundary following injury","volume":"22","author":"Nasser","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cell Rep"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1291","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002358","article-title":"Global consensus on the management of limbal stem cell deficiency","volume":"39","author":"Deng","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa0905955","article-title":"Limbal stem-cell therapy and long-term corneal regeneration","volume":"363","author":"Rama","year":"2010","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2020.12.008","article-title":"A systematic review of cellular therapies for the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency affecting one or both eyes","volume":"20","author":"Figueiredo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ocul Surf"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2024.01.003","article-title":"Comparative analysis of long-term results of three epithelial cell transplantation procedures for treating limbal stem cell deficiency","volume":"32","author":"Kengpunpanich","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ocul Surf"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"809","DOI":"10.1007\/s40123-020-00305-2","article-title":"Recent advances in stem cell therapy for limbal stem cell deficiency: a narrative review","volume":"9","author":"Ghareeb","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ophthalmol Ther"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1153","DOI":"10.3109\/02713683.2015.1095932","article-title":"Recreating the human limbal epithelial stem cell niche with bioengineered limbal crypts","volume":"41","author":"Levis","year":"2016","journal-title":"Curr Eye Res"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"230","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2019.01.002","article-title":"Strategies for reconstructing the limbal stem cell niche","volume":"17","author":"Yazdanpanah","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ocul Surf"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms221810067","article-title":"A decellularized human limbal scaffold for limbal stem cell niche reconstruction","volume":"22","author":"Polisetti","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"916","DOI":"10.1002\/stem.1886","article-title":"Concise reviews: the role of biomechanics in the limbal stem cell niche: new insights for our understanding of this structure","volume":"33","author":"Eberwein","year":"2015","journal-title":"Stem Cells Dayt Ohio"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1080\/02713683.2019.1639765","article-title":"Limbal epithelial and mesenchymal stem cell therapy for corneal regeneration","volume":"45","author":"Shukla","year":"2020","journal-title":"Curr Eye Res"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"sxaf048","DOI":"10.1093\/stmcls\/sxaf048","article-title":"Clinical evidence and critical review of mesenchymal stromal cells for corneal and ocular surface diseases","volume":"43","author":"Tu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Stem Cell"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.21037\/aes-22-55","article-title":"Cell-based therapies for limbal stem cell deficiency: a literature review","volume":"8","author":"Chen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ann Eye Sci"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.5114\/pdia.2013.33376","article-title":"Skin melanocytes: biology and development","volume":"30","author":"Cichorek","year":"2013","journal-title":"Postepy Dermatol Alergol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"170","DOI":"10.1038\/jid.2011.252","article-title":"Transcriptomic analysis of mouse embryonic skin cells reveals previously unreported genes expressed in melanoblasts","volume":"132","author":"Colombo","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Invest Dermatol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"598","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1755-148X.2008.00506.x","article-title":"The making of a melanocyte: the specification of melanoblasts from the neural crest","volume":"21","author":"Thomas","year":"2008","journal-title":"Pigment Cell Melanoma Res"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"560","DOI":"10.1038\/229560a0","article-title":"Role of the pericorneal papillary structure in renewal of corneal epithelium","volume":"229","author":"Davanger","year":"1971","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"218","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exer.2005.01.023","article-title":"Melanocytes in the corneal limbus interact with K19-positive basal epithelial cells","volume":"81","author":"Higa","year":"2005","journal-title":"Exp Eye Res"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"172","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2021.08.006","article-title":"Melanocytes as emerging key players in niche regulation of limbal epithelial stem cells","volume":"22","author":"Polisetti","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ocul Surf"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exer.2015.06.026","article-title":"Limbal melanocytes support limbal epithelial stem cells in 2D and 3D microenvironments","volume":"138","author":"Dziasko","year":"2015","journal-title":"Exp Eye Res"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-74869-1","article-title":"Isolation and enrichment of melanocytes from human corneal limbus using CD117 (c-Kit) as selection marker","volume":"10","author":"Polisetti","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3756","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms23073756","article-title":"Identification, isolation, and characterization of Melanocyte precursor cells in the human limbal stroma","volume":"23","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1411","DOI":"10.1002\/stem.2857","article-title":"Pigmentation is associated with stemness hierarchy of progenitor cells within cultured limbal epithelial cells","volume":"36","author":"Liu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Stem Cells Dayt Ohio"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-68120-0","article-title":"Laminin-511-E8 promotes efficient in vitro expansion of human limbal melanocytes","volume":"10","author":"Polisetti","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5152","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-017-04916-x","article-title":"Laminin-511 and -521-based matrices for efficient ex vivo-expansion of human limbal epithelial progenitor cells","volume":"7","author":"Polisetti","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1975","DOI":"10.3390\/cells11121975","article-title":"P-Cadherin is expressed by epithelial progenitor cells and melanocytes in the human corneal limbus","volume":"11","author":"Polisetti","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cells"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0094283","article-title":"Localisation of epithelial cells capable of holoclone formation in vitro and direct interaction with stromal cells in the native human limbal crypt","volume":"9","author":"Dziasko","year":"2014","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"289","DOI":"10.1634\/stemcells.2006-0167","article-title":"N-Cadherin is expressed by putative stem\/progenitor cells and melanocytes in the human limbal epithelial stem cell niche","volume":"25","author":"Hayashi","year":"2007","journal-title":"Stem Cell"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1946","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1128004","article-title":"Lhx2 maintains stem cell character in hair follicles","volume":"312","author":"Rhee","year":"2006","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.4161\/cl.1.1.13638","article-title":"Involvement of pigment globules containing multiple melanosomes in the transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes","volume":"1","author":"Ando","year":"2011","journal-title":"Cell Logist"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8630","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26178630","article-title":"Melanosome transport and processing in skin pigmentation: mechanisms and targets for pigmentation modulation","volume":"26","author":"Bao","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"806","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1523-1747.1998.00178.x","article-title":"Supranuclear melanin caps reduce ultraviolet induced DNA photoproducts in human epidermis","volume":"110","author":"Kobayashi","year":"1998","journal-title":"J Invest Dermatol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4466","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms22094466","article-title":"Melanin transfer in the epidermis: the pursuit of skin pigmentation control mechanisms","volume":"22","author":"Moreiras","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"623","DOI":"10.3390\/cells13070623","article-title":"Enrichment, characterization, and proteomic profiling of small extracellular vesicles derived from human limbal mesenchymal stromal cells and melanocytes","volume":"13","author":"Kistenmacher","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cells"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1578","DOI":"10.1007\/s12015-025-10877-w","article-title":"Proteomic insights into human limbal epithelial progenitor-derived small extracellular vesicles","volume":"21","author":"Braunsperger","year":"2025","journal-title":"Stem Cell Rev Rep"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1349","DOI":"10.1038\/2141349b0","article-title":"Migration of limbal melanocytes","volume":"214","author":"Henkind","year":"1967","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0b013e3181a16565","article-title":"Migration of limbal melanocytes onto the central cornea after ocular surface reconstruction: an in vivo confocal microscopic case report","volume":"29","author":"Huang","year":"2010","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0031-1273400","article-title":"[The melanocyte and the eye: a review with special emphasis on the cornea]","volume":"229","author":"Rohrbach","year":"2012","journal-title":"Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2021.06.002","article-title":"Dysfunction of the limbal epithelial stem cell niche in aniridia-associated keratopathy","volume":"21","author":"Schl\u00f6tzer-Schrehardt","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ocul Surf"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114","DOI":"10.1002\/path.2256","article-title":"Down-regulation of Pax6 is associated with abnormal differentiation of corneal epithelial cells in severe ocular surface diseases","volume":"214","author":"Li","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Pathol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"400","DOI":"10.3390\/cells12030400","article-title":"PAX6 expression patterns in the adult human limbal stem cell niche","volume":"12","author":"Polisetti","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cells"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1159\/000530514","article-title":"Dendritic melanocytic hyperplasia in pterygia: a potential source of diagnostic confusion with primary acquired melanosis","volume":"9","author":"Oh","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ocul Oncol Pathol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"632","DOI":"10.5858\/arpa.2021-0006-RA","article-title":"Conjunctival melanocytic lesions","volume":"146","author":"Bresler","year":"2022","journal-title":"Arch Pathol Lab Med"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1111\/pcmr.70006","article-title":"Conjunctival melanoma: a narrative review of current knowledge","volume":"38","author":"Papaoikonomou","year":"2025","journal-title":"Pigment Cell Melanoma Res"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-90318-3","article-title":"PAX3 expression patterns in ocular surface melanocytes","volume":"15","author":"Ulrich","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib60","series-title":"Pterygium. StatPearls, treasure Island (FL)","author":"Sarkar","year":"2025"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"719","DOI":"10.1016\/j.survophthal.2018.03.001","article-title":"Prevalence and risk factors of pterygium: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"63","author":"Rezvan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Surv Ophthalmol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib62","first-page":"599","article-title":"The ultrastructure of conjunctival melanocytic tumors","volume":"82","author":"Jakobiec","year":"1984","journal-title":"Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2021\/6623794","article-title":"Histopathological variability and concomitant lesions in pterygium in a large case series","volume":"2021","author":"Bergeron","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib64","unstructured":"Reda AM, Shaaban YMM, El-Din SAS. Histopathological parameters in pterygia and significant n.d."},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib65","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo-2025-329171","article-title":"Malignant melanocytic lesions in clinically suspected pterygium","author":"Hajdu","year":"2026","journal-title":"Br J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib66","first-page":"431","article-title":"Mesenchymal cells from limbal stroma of human eye","volume":"14","author":"Polisetty","year":"2008","journal-title":"Mol Vis"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib67","first-page":"1227","article-title":"Gene expression profile of epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells derived from limbal explant culture","volume":"16","author":"Polisetti","year":"2010","journal-title":"Mol Vis"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3570","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.19-27656","article-title":"Single-cell RNA transcriptome helps define the limbal\/corneal epithelial stem\/early transit amplifying cells and how autophagy affects this population","volume":"60","author":"Kaplan","year":"2019","journal-title":"Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib69","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2015.12.006","article-title":"Stem cells in the limbal stroma","volume":"14","author":"Funderburgh","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ocul Surf"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib70","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fcell.2025.1667309","article-title":"The impact of the limbal niche interactions on the self-renewal capability of limbal epithelial stem cells","volume":"13","author":"Aghazadeh","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Cell Dev Biol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib71","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.stemcr.2024.11.008","article-title":"Low fucosylation defines the glycocalyx of progenitor cells and melanocytes in the human limbal stem cell niche","volume":"20","author":"Woodward","year":"2025","journal-title":"Stem Cell Rep"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib72","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"763","DOI":"10.1111\/pcmr.12882","article-title":"Instant isolation of highly purified human melanocytes from freshly prepared epidermal cell suspensions","volume":"33","author":"Willemsen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pigment Cell Melanoma Res"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib73","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4005","DOI":"10.4081\/ijas.2015.4005","article-title":"Isolation and culture of melanocytes from the arctic fox (Alopex Lagopus)","volume":"14","author":"Bao","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ital J Anim Sci"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib74","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2750","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms23052750","article-title":"Efficient isolation and functional characterization of niche cells from human corneal limbus","volume":"23","author":"Polisetti","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib75","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.celrep.2022.110419","article-title":"Characterization of a melanocyte progenitor population in human interfollicular epidermis","volume":"38","author":"Michalak-Mi\u0107ka","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cell Rep"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib76","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"927","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_155_19","article-title":"Reappearance of limbal pigmentation post-simple limbal epithelial transplant","volume":"68","author":"Gupta","year":"2020","journal-title":"Indian J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib77","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1038\/srep43557","article-title":"Long-term homeostasis and wound healing in an in vitro epithelial stem cell niche model","volume":"7","author":"Miyashita","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib78","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3752","DOI":"10.3390\/cells11233752","article-title":"Transcriptomic landscape and functional characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived limbal epithelial progenitor cells","volume":"11","author":"Polisetti","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cells"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib79","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.5114\/ceji.2023.132033","article-title":"The immunology of corneal limbal stem cells: the up-to-date approach to stem cell transplantation","volume":"48","author":"Samelska","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cent-Eur J Immunol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib80","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"614","DOI":"10.5966\/sctm.2012-0143","article-title":"Concise review: immunological properties of ocular surface and importance of limbal stem cells for transplantation","volume":"2","author":"Shaharuddin","year":"2013","journal-title":"Stem Cells Transl Med"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib81","author":"Zamiri"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib82","first-page":"662","article-title":"Melanocyte pigmentation inversely correlates with MCP-1 production and angiogenesis-inducing potential","volume":"29","author":"Adini","year":"2015","journal-title":"FASEB J Off Publ Fed Am Soc Exp Biol"},{"key":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001_bib83","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0251121","article-title":"Melanocytes determine angiogenesis gene expression across human tissues","volume":"16","author":"Freilikhman","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"}],"container-title":["The Ocular Surface"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/api.elsevier.com\/content\/article\/PII:S1542012426000431?httpAccept=text\/xml","content-type":"text\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/api.elsevier.com\/content\/article\/PII:S1542012426000431?httpAccept=text\/plain","content-type":"text\/plain","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T21:07:15Z","timestamp":1790284035000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/linkinghub.elsevier.com\/retrieve\/pii\/S1542012426000431"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]},"references-count":83,"alternative-id":["S1542012426000431"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001","relation":{},"ISSN":["1542-0124"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1542-0124","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]},"assertion":[{"value":"Elsevier","name":"publisher","label":"This article is maintained by"},{"value":"Melanocytes as key cells of the limbal stem cell niche: Roles in ocular surface homeostasis, disease, and regenerative therapy","name":"articletitle","label":"Article Title"},{"value":"The Ocular Surface","name":"journaltitle","label":"Journal Title"},{"value":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jtos.2026.04.001","name":"articlelink","label":"CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version"},{"value":"article","name":"content_type","label":"Content Type"},{"value":"\u00a9 2026 Published by Elsevier Inc.","name":"copyright","label":"Copyright"}]}}