Transfer of mesenchymal stem cells and cyclosporine A on alkali-injured rabbit cornea using nanofiber scaffolds strongly reduces corneal neovascularization and scar formation
Cestmir Cejka1, Jitka Cejkova1, Peter Trosan1,2, Alena Zajicova1, Eva Sykova1,3 and Vladimir Holan1,2
1Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 2Faculty of Natural Science, Charles University and 3Department of Neuroscience, 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Offprint requests to: Associate Prof. Jitka Čejková,MD,PhD,DSc, Head, Department of Eye Histochemistry and Pharmacology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídenska 1083, 14220, Prague 4,CR. e-mail: cejkova@biomed.cas.cz
Summary. The aim of this study was to examine whether nanofiber scaffolds seeded with rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs nanofibers) transferred onto the damaged corneal surface and covered with cyclosporine A (CsA)-loaded nanofiber scaffolds (CsA nanofibers) enable healing of the rabbit cornea injured with 1N NaOH. The healing of damaged corneas was examined morphologically, immunohisto-chemically and biochemically on day 24 after the injury. Compared to untreated injured corneas, where corneal ulceration or large corneal thinning or even perforation were developed, injured corneas treated with drug free nanofibers healed without profound disturbances in a majority of cases, although with fibrosis and scar formation. In injured corneas treated with CsA nanofibers or MSCs nanofibers, the development of scar formation was reduced. Best healing results were obtained with a combination of MSCs and CsA nanofibers (MSCs-CsA nanofibers). Corneas healed with highly restored transparency. Neovascularization highly expressed in untreated injured corneas and reduced in corneas treated with CsA nanofibers or MSCs nanofibers, was suppressed in corneas treated with MSCs-CsA nanofibers. The levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin 6, α-smooth muscle actin, tumor growth factor β and vascular endothelial growth factor were significantly decreased in these corneas as compared to untreated corneas, where the levels of the above mentioned markers were high. In conclusion, MSCs-CsA nanofibers were effective in the treatment of severe alkali-induced corneal injury. Histol Histopathol 31, 969-980 (2016)
Key words: Alkali, Cornea, CsA nanofibers, MSCs nanofibers, MSCs-CsA nanofibers
DOI: 10.14670/HH-11-724