cultivated autologous oral mucosal epithelium

Cultivated autologous oral mucosal epithelium (CAOMEL) is a tissue-engineered regenerative medicine product designed to treat severe limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), particularly in patients with bilateral ocular surface disease where autologous limbal tissue is unavailable. The therapy involves harvesting a small biopsy of the patient's own oral mucosal tissue, which is then expanded ex vivo to form a cohesive epithelial cell sheet. This sheet is transplanted onto the denuded corneal surface to restore a functional epithelial layer. The transplanted oral mucosal cells act as a surrogate for corneal epithelial cells, preventing conjunctivalization (the encroachment of opaque conjunctival tissue onto the cornea), reducing inflammation, and restoring corneal transparency. This technology was pioneered by researchers at Osaka University and commercialized as Ocural by Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd. (J-TEC).

Brand names

Ocural

Other names

CAOMELCOMETCultivated Oral Mucosal Epithelial TransplantationAutologous cultured oral mucosal epithelial cell sheet