The Effect of Limbal Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome on Corneal Neovascularization in Experimental Model of Corneal Alkali Injury

Abstract

Background:To investigate the effect of limbal mesenchymal stem cell (L-MSC) secretome in inhibition of corneal neovascularization in animal model of alkali chemical injury Methods: Secretome was collected from limbal mesenchymal stem cells of corneoscleral tissue of healthy male rabbit. Rabbits were exposed to NaOH. The research subjects consisted of 3 groups, normal control group, Balance salt solution (BSS) group, and (L-MSC) secretome group. Clinical corneal neovascularization level, number of corneal neovascularization histopathologically with hematoxylin-eosin staining and VEGF expression by immunohistochemical staining were analyzed.Results: After seven days of administration of topical instillation of L-MSC secretome, neovascularization level in L-MSC group was lower than BSS group even though the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The mean histopathological neovascular count in the L-MSC secretome group was lower than that BSS group even though the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05) Conclusions:In conclusion, topical instillation of limbal mesenchymal stem secretome has a potential effect on inhibiton of corneal neovascularization even though not significant at day-7 in experimental alkali injury model.