Transplantation of quantum dot-labelled bone marrow-derived stem cells into the vitreous of mice with laser-induced retinal injury: survival, integration and differentiation.
Accidental laser exposure to the eyes may result in serious visual impairment due to retina degeneration. Currently limited treatment is available for laser eye injury. In the current study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) for laser-induced retinal trauma. Lineage negative bone marrow cells (Lin(-) BMCs) were labelled with quantum dots (Qdots) to track the cells in vivo. Lin(-) BMCs survived well after intravitreal injection. In vivo bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labelling showed these cells continued to proliferate and integrate into injured retinas. Furthermore, they expressed markers that distinguished retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), endothelium, pericytes and photoreceptors. Our results suggest that BMSCs participate in the repair of retinal lesions by differentiating into retinal cells. Intravitreal transplantation of BMSCs is a potential treatment for laser-induced retinal trauma.
US Army Medical Research Detachment, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 7965 Dave Erwin Drive, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235, USA. Heuy-ching.hetty.wang@us.army.mil
Heuy-Ching
HC
Wang
Jeremiah
J
Brown
Helena
H
Alayon
Bruce E
BE
Stuck
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology* / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000601:surgery*
D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; C515256:Cxcl12 protein, mouse