Current development of alternative treatments for endothelial decompensation: Cell-based therapy

Current treatment for corneal endothelial dysfunction consists in the replacement of corneal endothelium by keratoplasty. Owing to the scarcity of donor corneas and the increasing number of transplants, alternative treatments such as cell-based therapies are necessary. In this article, we highlight...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental eye research 2021-06, Vol.207, p.108560-108560, Article 108560
Main Authors: Rodríguez-Fernández, Silvia, Piñeiro-Ramil, María, Castro-Viñuelas, Rocío, Sanjurjo-Rodríguez, Clara, Álvarez-Portela, Marcelino, Fuentes-Boquete, Isaac M., Rendal-Vázquez, Esther, M Díaz-Prado, Silvia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal model
Cell injection
Cell-based therapy
Corneal endothelium
Endothelial decompensation
Endothelial keratoplasty
Endothelial regeneration
Tissue engineering
Transplantation
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Summary:Current treatment for corneal endothelial dysfunction consists in the replacement of corneal endothelium by keratoplasty. Owing to the scarcity of donor corneas and the increasing number of transplants, alternative treatments such as cell-based therapies are necessary. In this article, we highlight the biological aspects of the cornea and the corneal endothelium, as well as the context that surrounds the need for new alternatives to conventional keratoplasty. We then review some of those experimental treatments in more detail, focusing on the development of the in vitro and preclinical phases of two cell-based therapies: tissue-engineered endothelial keratoplasty (TE-EK) and cell injection. In the case of TE-EK graft construction, we analyse the current progress, considering all the requirements it must meet in order to be functional. Moreover, we discuss the inherent drawbacks of endothelial keratoplasties, which TE-EK grafts should overcome in order to make surgical intervention easier and to improve the outcomes of current endothelial keratoplasties. Finally, we analyse the development of preclinical trials and their limitations in terms of performing an optimal functional evaluation of cell-based therapy, and we conclude by discussing early clinical trials in humans. Experimental treatments are developing for endothelial dysfunctions.Cell based therapies offer the possibility of regenerate a healthy endotheliumTissue engineered graft for EK and cell injection therapy show a high progress.
ISSN:0014-4835
1096-0007
DOI:10.1016/j.exer.2021.108560