Treatment of alkali‐injured corneas by nanofibers seeded with mesenchymal stem cells or loaded with cyclosporine a

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford, England) England), 2014-09, Vol.92 (s253), p.0-0
• Main Authors: HOLAN, V, CEJKOVA, J, CEJKA, C, TROSAN, P, ZAJICOVA, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bone marrow; Ophthalmology; Stem cells
• ISSN: 1755-375X; 1755-3768
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2014.S038.x

Purpose Purpose. To test a possibilty to treat the early corneal inflammation occuring after alkali injury by nanofiber scaffolds seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or loaded with cyclosporine A (CsA). Methods Methods. The alkali was applied on the cornea of the rabbit eyes. The eyes were rinsed with the excess of physiological solution and covered with nanofiber scaffold seeded with rabbit bone marrow‐derived MSCs or with nanofibers loaded with CsA. At different time intervals after the injury the eyes were analyzed macroscopically, immunohistochemically and biochemically. Results Results. Treatment of alkali‐injured eyes with MSCs or CsA significantly attenuated the local inflammatory reaction. The therapeutic effects were characterized clinically, according to a reduced infiltration with inflammatory cells, by a lower neovascularization and by decreased expression of genes for proinflammatory molecules IL‐1beta, IL‐2, IFN‐gamma and iNOS and for vascular endothelial growth factor. These anti‐inflammatory effects were accompanied by a more rapid regeneration of the corneal epithelium and by increased expression of gene for cytokeratin K12. Conclusion Conclusion. The results demonstrate that MSC‐seeded or CsA‐loaded nanofiber scaffolds represent a promising therapeutic tool for the treatment of alkali‐induced ocular surface injuries