Reconstruction of the corneal epithelium with induced marrow mesenchymal stem cells in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the feasibility of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transdifferentiating into corneal epithelial cells in a limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) model in rats.


METHODS
Rat MSCs were isolated and purified using a gradient isolation procedure. The cells were induced by rat corneal stromal cells (CSCs) in a transwell co-culture system. The induced MSCs were identified by immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A corneal LSCD model was produced in the right eyes of 48 rats by alkali injury. The eyes of 12 rats without any transplant served as controls (Group 1). Amniotic membranes (AM; Group 2), uninduced MSCs (Group 3), or MSCs induced by CSCs (Group 4), were transplanted onto the cornea of the model (n=12 each). The therapeutic effects of the four groups were evaluated by slit lamp observation, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry staining, and confocal laser corneal microscopy.


RESULTS
Cultivated MSCs were positive for CD29, CD44, and CD90, but negative for CD34, CD45, CD133, and CK12, with typical MSCs characteristics revealed by SEM. After co-culture with CSCs, the induced MSCs expressed positive staining for CK12 with corneal epithelial cell characteristics confirmed by SEM; the induced MSCs were unchanged on the amnion. Compared with the other three groups, the corneal opacity, fluorescence staining, and neovascularization grades were significantly decreased in the induced MSCs group, both on postoperative week four and ten.


CONCLUSIONS
MSCs induced by CSCs can transdifferentiate into corneal epithelial cells in vitro. The induced MSCs on an amniotic membrane have remarkable effects on the treatment of corneal alkali burn and the reconstruction of the corneal surface of rats.
Jiang
Ting-Shuai
TS
Department of Ophthalmology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shannxi, China.
Cai
Li
L
Ji
Wei-Ying
WY
Hui
Yan-Nian
YN
Wang
Yu-Sheng
YS
Hu
Dan
D
Zhu
Jie
J
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000601:surgery; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS) / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006416:Hematoxylin / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology
D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin