Abstract
Purpose:
This study was performed to evaluate the effect of topical application of fat-derived mesenchymal stem cells (FDMSCs) on corneal alkalie burn injury in dogs.
Methods:
The corneal alkalie burn was induced by applying a filter paper soaked in NaOH on the cornea for 60 seconds, including upper limbus. Ten dogs were divided into two groups: control group, vehicle-treated; MSC group, FDMSC-treated. Corneal opacity, epithelial defects and neovascularization were evaluated on days 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson’s trichrome (MT) and immunohisochemical staining were performed to evaluate general histopathology, collagen fiber architectures, numbers of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), caspase-3, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin(IL)-1β and CD105-positive cells. Real-time PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β).
Results:
We observed that MSCs improved the corneal recovery by decreasing corneal opacity and epithelial defects. The epithelium thickness, cornea damaged depth and areas, the number of inflammatory cells and vessels, and the numbers of iNOS, caspase-3, TNF-α and IL-1β-positive cells were significantly decreased in the MSC group. But, the number of CD105-positive cells was significantly higher in the MSC group than the control group. In addition, the mRNA expression of TNF-α was significantly decreased and IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β were significantly increased in the MSC group.
Conclusions:
Our study suggests that topical application of FDMSCs may stimulate the healing of alkalie-induced corneal injury in dogs.
Keywords: 479 cornea: clinical science •
482 cornea: epithelium •
557 inflammation