Abstract
Presentation Description :
Corneal blindness due to scarring is treated with corneal tissue grafting. However, there exists a global challenge of donor material shortage. Various studies have shown that corneal stromal stem cells (CSSCs) suppress corneal scar formation. Mediated by the paracrine action of extracellular vesicles (EVs), CSSCs blocked neutrophil infiltration into the wound site and reduced fibrosis. Depletion of microRNAs in CSSC-derived EVs attenuated these regenerative effects. Our recent studies identified that these EVs delivered miR-29a and 381, which played important roles in anti-inflammation and fibrosis, and scar reduction after CSSC therapy. In addition, CSSC-EV cargo contained regenerative cytokine, transforming growth factor β3 (both protein and mRNA), which adds to the tissue regenerative effects of CSSC on corneal recovery after injury.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.