Abstract
Purpose :
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to have regenerative potential and may also play a role in modulating the immune system. The goal of this study is to provide insights about MSCs’ plasticity towards corneal keratocyte lineage, anti-inflammatory properties and their putative application for corneal stromal repair.
Methods :
In the present study, we investigated four different tissue sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs): adipose tissue (ASC), bone marrow (BM-MSC), umbilical cord (UC SC), and corneal stroma (CSSC). Comparative analysis of the MSCs was evaluated for their expression of mesenchymal stem cell markers using immunohistochemistry and their potential for differentiation by gene expression analysis. The capacity to response to inflammation was evaluated by the expression level of TNFAIP6 gene, for each MSC, after treatment with pro-inflammatory cytokines, IFN-γ and TNF-α.
Results :
All four types of MSCs expressed and retained the surface antigen and MSC markers including CD90, CD73 and CD105. They all have multilineage differentiation potential towards adipocyte, osteoblast and chondrocyte cell types after 21 days of induction, most prominently observed in BM MSC cell lines. All MSCs expressed keratocyte-related genes, including lumican (LUM), carbohydrate sulfotransferase (CHTS6), and keratocan (KERA). ASC and CSSC cell lines demonstrated a significant increase (p < 0.05) of those genes after induction with TGFβ-3 and FGF2 for 7 days in vitro. The TNFAIP6 response to inflammation was observed in CSSC, and to a lower extent in the ASC, BM MSC, and UC SC, with a significant (p < 0.05) 3-fold increase of its transcripts levels as compared to non-stimulated MSCs.
Conclusions :
Based on our findings, CSSC showed the highest differentiation potential towards keratocyte lineage and anti-inflammatory properties.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.