Efficacy of Topical Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Experimental Dry Eye Syndrome Model

Abstract

Purpose. The current study was set out to address the therapeutic efficacy of topically applied mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on dry eye syndrome (DES) induced by benzalkonium chloride (BAC) in rats. Methods. Rats were divided into two groups just after establishment of DES. Eye drops containing either bromodeoxyuridine labeled MSCs (n = 9) or phosphate buffer solution (n = 7) were topically applied once daily for one week. Schirmer test, break-up time score, ocular surface evaluation tests, and corneal inflammatory index scoring tests were applied to all rats at baseline and after treatment. All rats were sacrificed after one week for histological and electron microscopic analysis. Results. Mean aqueous tear volume and tear film stability were significantly increased in rats treated with MSCs (P < 0.05). Infiltration of bromodeoxyuridine labeled MSCs into the meibomian glands and conjunctival epithelium was observed in MSCs treated rats. Increased number of secretory granules and number of goblet cells were observed in MSCs treated rats. Conclusion. Topical application of MSCs could be a safe and effective method for the treatment of DES and could potentially be used for further clinical research studies.

Cell size and nucleo‐cytoplasmic ratios of meibocytes in the anterior acini of the upper eyelid Meibomian glands in rabbits

“…Such differences can be partially apparent in an oblique section, and the same conclusion can be drawn from similar (para)sagittal sections through the acini . Tritium labeling, or BrdU labeling, can be undertaken to identify basal cells predominantly in the periphery of the acini, and morphometry could perhaps be undertaken on these labeled cells. Notwithstanding, a useful morphometric index, even off sagittal sections, might be the apparent number of meibocytes in any particular lobule and for which an approximate value of between 35 and 40 would seem reasonable for rabbit acini.…”

“…The actual secretory nature is not evident in such clumps with the units seen to have a relatively amorphous content such that the individual cells (meibocytes) are not uniformly evident. In other sections, perhaps at slightly higher magnification, some meibocyte nuclei can be visible, and just sometimes the individual meibocytes with their cell borders can be seen . The cells seen, however, do not have any obvious organization and so better sectioning and viewing methods as well as objective assessments are needed to underpin histopathological diagnoses of gland dysfunction.…”

Mesenchymal stem cells for treating autoimmune dacryoadenitis

“…It is a multifactorial and complex disease and inflammation plays a key role in its pathogenesis [2] (Fig. 1).…”

Lacrimal gland development: From signaling interactions to regenerative medicine

“…In a dry eye mouse model, periorbital injection of human MSCs led to a localized reduction in inflammatory cytokines and improved tear secretion (Lee et al, 2015b). Topical administration of MSCs in a rat model of the dry eye disease also improved tear volume and tear film stability (Beyazyildiz et al, 2014).…”

“…In a dry eye mouse model, periorbital injection of human MSCs led to a localized reduction in inflammatory cytokines and improved tear secretion (Lee et al, 2015b). Topical administration of MSCs in a rat model of the dry eye disease also improved tear volume and tear film stability (Beyazyildiz et al, 2014). Recently, progenitor cells of the epithelial lineage from adult mouse lacrimal glands were successfully engrafted into the ductal and acinar compartments of chronically diseased lacrimal gland in TSP −/− mice, a model of Sjogren’s syndrome.…”