Abstract
Purpose: :
Assess the incorporation and differentiation potential of adult bone marrow–derived stem cells (BMSC) as a potential therapeutic approach to replenish dead RGC following ischemic optic neuropathy.
Methods: :
Mononucleate and low–density bone marrow cells (mBMC) from GFP donors were injected intravenous and intravitreal at various times after induction of ischemic optic neuropathy injury (AION). AION was induced by laser photosensitization of intravenously–injected rose Bengal over the optic disk in syngeneic C57/B6 mice. The contralateral eyes served as negative controls for AION induction. The recipients were euthanized at variable times. The eyes were harvested and used for flat mount retina and immunohistochemistry preparations.
Results: :
When intravitreous injection, significant numbers of cells were detected in the eyes with and without retinal injury. Following intravenous infusion of the cells, mBMC–GFP cells were seen only in eyes that have undergone rAION. The pattern of incorporation was, as expected, diffuse with selective accumulation in the central retina and along blood vessels. The incorporation occurred within several days and was still detectable one month following the induction.
Conclusions: :
This study shows that mBMC home to the ischemia–injured retina from the peripheral blood, and incorporate selectively at the sites of injury. The cells were viable after sustained periods of time and expressed various markers of non–hematopoietic differentiation. The differentiation patterns and functionality of the cells are currently under investigation.
Keywords: neuro-ophthalmology: optic nerve • ganglion cells • ischemia