A study on how bone marrow-derived MSCs inhibit rejection reaction of alkali burn-induced corneal neovascularization

作者：Peng, Lianghong^*; Zhou, Wenjie; Qin, Jieying; Liu, Xiao'an; Zou, Xiulan; Li, Zhengya; Zou, Yuping

来源：International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 2018, 11(5): 4859-4866.

• Mesenchymal stem cells
• corneal neovascularization
• cell apoptosis
• alkali burn
• rabbit model

Objective: The study was to explore the mechanism of action of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) inhibition of corneal neovascularization (CNV) of rabbits and to test the impact of MSCs on endogenous vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the CNV model. Methods: The bone marrow of rabbits was taken under aseptic conditions and MSCs were separated thereafter. MSCs after 3 generations of culture were digested and made into a cell suspension and inoculated on amniotic membrane graft for routine culture. The alkali burn-induced CNV model of rabbits was established. Thirty New Zealand rabbits 8 to 12 weeks old were equally divided into three groups: Empty Group (Group A), MSCs Transplant Group (Group B) and Conventional Transportation Model Group (Group C) two weeks later. With penetrating keratoplasty, the amniotic membrane graft with MSCs of Group B and Group C was respectively fastened to the shallow sclera through interrupted suture. Group A was subjected to no treatment whatsoever. The eye surface of rabbits was examined before and after the transplant, and the CNV area tested, and rejection reaction and turbidity graded. Expression of VEGF and IFN-gamma mRNA in corneal tissues was measured through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The screened MSCs of rabbits had a uniformity of 97.54%, and after the transplant, the comprehensive score of eye surface of Group B was remarkably reduced (P<0.05). Group C had rejection reaction and a statistical difference from Group B (P<0.05). Group A featured remarkably improved expression of IFN-gamma mRNA and was statistically different from Group B and Group C (P<0.05). Group A offered noticeably reduced expression of VEGF mRNA in comparison to Group B and Group C (P<0.05). Group B boasted notably lowered expression of IFN-gamma mRNA and VEGF mRNA in comparison to Group C (P<0.05). Conclusion: Bone marrow-derived MSCs could remarkably inhibit the rejection reaction of alkali burn-induced corneal neovascularization.

• 出版日期2018