Abstract
Purpose :
Corneal endothelial dystrophies are the most common reason for corneal transplantation, but are limited by the supply of suitable donor tissue. Corneal endothelial dystrophy is currently being experimentally treated with limited descemet’s stripping (Descemet's stripping only or DSO) without transplantation. DSO has a slower recovery and a lower success rate than transplantation. This work sought to test whether recovery from DSO and the healing of the endothelial lesions could be accelerated in corneal organ culture by treatment with an engineered form of FGF1 (TTHX1114).
Methods :
Rabbit and human corneas were maintained in organ culture. Lesions to the endothelial layer were created either by treatment with octanol, which eliminates the endothelial cells but leaves Descemet’s membrane, or by surgical removal of Descemets. Both processes were performed to create ~4mm central lesions. Corneas were then incubated in the presence or absence of TTHX1114 and the recovery of the endothelial layer evaluated by trypan blue staining.
Results :
Both types of lesions become progressively smaller over time. In the rabbit cornea following octanol lesioning, the % of the lesion healed in TTHX1114 treated corneas was 45% vs 29% in the control (p<0.05) after 72 hours. Healing of human corneas after Descemet’s stripping proceeds more slowly but is also accelerated by TTHX1114.
Conclusions :
The healing of endothelial lesions, including both with and without the stripping of the underlying Descemet’s membrane, can be accelerated by engineered FGF1 in the organ culture system.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.