Contact Information
Phone: (310) 206-5767
Fax: (310) 794-7906
Email: dengpatients@jsei.ucla.edu
Location Address
Doris Stein Eye Research Center
200 Stein Plaza, Room 3-143
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Research Areas
Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency
The Cornea Biology Laboratory, under Dr. Deng's direction, studies the microenvironment/niche of the limbal stem cells to elucidate those factors that govern the fate of limbal stem cells. The role of Wnt signal transduction pathway in human limbal stem/progenitor cells is under investigation. Use of small molecules to modulate Wnt signaling are being investigated to increase the ex vivo expansion of limbal stem cells for transplantation.
One ongoing clinical study conducted under Dr. Deng's direction is to elucidate and characterize the cellular changes in the cornea and limbus using laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. Studies to better characterize corneal, limbal and conjunctival epithelial cell phenotypes are also underway. These studies aim to develop new diagnostic tests and a classification system to stage limbal stem cell deficiency.
Deng, S., Pendland, S., Gupta, S., Fiscella, R., Edward, D., Tessler, H., Goldstein, D., Methotrexate reduces the complications of endophthalmitis resulting from intravitreal injection compared with dexamethasone in a rabbit model, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006 Apr;47(4):1516-21
Ding, Z., Dong, J., Liu, J., Deng, S., Preferential Gene Expression of the Limbus in Vervet Monkey, Mol Vis. 2008; 14:2031-41
Asbell, P., Colby, K., Deng, S., et al. Ocular TRUST: Nationwide Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns in Ocular Isolates, Am J Ophthalmol. 2008 Jun;145(6):951-8
Deng, S., Kamal KM, Hollander, D., The use of Voriconazole in the Management of Post-penetrating Keratoplasty Paecilomyces keratitis. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Apr;25(2):175-7
Tsui, I., Uslan, D., Hubschman, J., Deng, S., Nocardia farcinica Infection of a Baerveldt Implant in a Patient with a Boston Type I Keratoprosthesis, J Glaucoma. 2010 Jun-Jul 19(5): 339-40
Hong, J., Zheng, T., Xu, J., Deng, S., Chen, L., Sun, X., Le, Q., Pan, Z., Assessment of Keratolimbal Allograft Survival Using In Vivo Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy, an Observational Study, Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2011 May: 249(5):701-8
Nakatsu, M., Ding, Z., Ng, M., Truong, T., Deng, S., Wnt/ß-catenin Signaling in the Regulation of Human Corneal Epithelial Progenitor Cell Proliferation, IOVS, 2011 Jul 1;52(7):4734-41
Zarei-Ghanavati, S., Baghdasaryan, E., Ramirez-Miranda, A., Nguyen, M., Yu, F., Deng, S., Elevated Intraocular Pressure is a Common Complication During Active Microbial Keratitis, Am J. Ophthalmol. 2011 Oct;152(4):575-581
Truong T., Huynh, K., Nakatsu, M, Deng, S., SSEA-4 is a Potential Negative Marker for Human Limbal Stem/Progenitor Cells, IOVS, 2011 Aug 11;52(9):6315-20
Ramirez-Miranda, A., Zarei-Ghanavati, S., Nakatsu, M., Nguyen, C., Deng, S., Keratin 13 is a More Specific Marker of Human Conjunctival Epithelium Than Keratin 19, Mol Vis. 2011;17:1652-61
Wiaux, C., Baghdasaryan, E., Lee, O., Bourges, J., Deng, S., Yu, F., Aldave, A., Outcomes After Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty in Glaucoma Patients with Previous Trabeculectomy and Tube Shunt Implantation, Cornea, 2011 Dec;30(12):1304-11
Deng, S., Sejpal, K., Tang, Q., Lee, O., Aldave, A., Yu, F., Characterization of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency by in vivo Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy: a Microstructural Approach, Arch Ophthalmol. 2012 Apr;130(4):440-5. Epub 2011 Dec 12
Zarei-Ghanavati, S., Ramirez-Miranda, A., Deng, S., Limbal Lacunae, A New Limbal Structure Detected by in vivo Confocal Microscopy. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging. 2011 Dec 8;42:e129-31
Kurbanyan, K., Sejpal, K., Aldave, A., Deng S., In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Findings in Lisch Corneal Dystrophy, Cornea. 2012 Apr;31(4):437-41
Wang, L., Deng, S., Lu, L., Role of CTCF in EGF-induced Migration of Immortalized Human Corneal Epithelial Cells, IOVS, 2012 Feb 23;53(2):946-51
Sejpal, K., Bakhtiari, B., Deng, S., Presentation, Diagnosis and Management of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency, MEAJO (Accepted)
Hua, M., Gonzalez, S., Deng, S., Extracellular matrix is an important component of limbal stem cell niche, J. Funct. Mater. (Submitted)
Prevent Blindness America, Investigator Award: Characterization and Staging of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency using in vivo Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, 8/1/10-7/30/11
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Early Translational Research Award (PI): Regeneration of Functional Human Corneal Epithelial Progenitor Cells, 2/2011-1/2014
National Eye Institute R01 (PI): Ex Vivo Expansion of Limbal Stem Cells for Transplantation, 9/1/12-8/30/17
Training Positions
Students who are interested in carrying out research for undergraduate or graduate studies at the Deng Laboratory are encourage to contact Dr. Deng directly by email at dengpatients@ucla.edu.
Postdoctoral research fellowships are usually offered for 3-5 years. Each fellowship is unique, and conducted according to mutual agreement between the trainee and Dr. Deng. Predoctoral research fellowships provide the means for graduate students to obtain their doctorates while working with Institute faculty in highly specialized laboratory environments.
Thakore-Shah Kaushali
