Frozen cultured sheets of epidermal keratinocytes in reepithelialization and repair of the cornea after photorefractive keratectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether frozen cultured sheets of human allogeneic epidermal keratinocytes (CEAK) improved wound repair after experimental corneal ablation by photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).


METHODS
Hospital "Luis Sanchez Bulnes" de la Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico, I.A.P, and Department of Cell Biology, CINVESTAV-IPN, Mexico City, Mexico.


METHODS
Transepithelial PRK was performed in the right eye of male albino rabbits to obtain a 112 microm deep and 6.0 mm diameter ablation zone. In 17 eyes, the ablations were covered with frozen CEAK; in 11 eyes, the ablations were covered with a disposable contact lens without the cultured sheets; and in the control group (13 eyes), the ablations were not covered. Subepithelial fibrosis and reepithelialization of the ablated zone were evaluated in serial paraffin-embedded tissue sections from all wounds.


RESULTS
Treatment with CEAK reduced fibroblast proliferation and the inflammatory response beneath the ablated zone and produced better organization of the newly formed epithelium by eliminating significant hyperplasia or discontinuities in the periodic acid Shiff-stained basement membrane. It also led to accelerated reepithelialization.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of frozen CEAK as a biologically active wound dressing improved tissue repair at 1 month in corneas ablated by transepithelial PRK in the male albino rabbit model. Treatment with CEAK could improve the outcome of PRK in humans.
Castro-Muñozledo
Federico
F
Department of Cell Biology, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Mexico City, Mexico. fcastro@cell.cinvestav.mx
Ozorno-Zarate
Jorge
J
Naranjo-Tackman
Ramon
R
Kuri-Harcuch
Walid
W
D000818:Animals; D001458:Bandages; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011817:Rabbits; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*