Approaches to Restoring Lacrimal Gland Function: From stem Cells to Tissue Engineering

We review the latest developments in restoration of lacrimal gland function in dry eye disease and promising methods to generate functional lacrimal gland units.

Mesenchymal stem cell delivery demonstrated improved tear secretion in dry eye mouse models and early human studies, likely through immune modulation and lacrimal gland repair mechanisms. Advances in regenerative strategies to create functional lacrimal gland units included new porcine scaffolds, the organ germ method, novel methods to generate lacrimal organoids, and 3-dimensional bioprinting. FGF signaling holds an important role in the development and growth of lacrimal gland epithelium.

Advances in the various approaches to restoring function and engineering lacrimal units show promise for future clinical application.