title: Potential role of intravitreal human placental stem cell implants in inhibiting progression of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes: neuroprotective growth factors in the vitreous.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intravitreal injection of human mesenchymal stem cells has been shown to be effective in slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy in an animal model of chemically induced diabetes mellitus. We studied changes in growth factor levels released from human mesenchymal stem cells in the vitreous cavity as well as changes in growth factor levels in host retinal neurons following intravitreal injection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two Lewis rats were treated with an intravitreal human mesenchymal stem cell microinjection. Determination of neurotrophic factors released by human mesenchymal stem cells in the vitreous was carried out using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Detectable levels of neurotrophic factors were identified postoperatively in the vitreous of all rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased intravitreal and retinal concentrations of neuroprotective growth factors in rats confirm the neuroprotective activity of human mesenchymal stem cells in diabetic retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Glaucoma and Low Vision Study Center, Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplants, University of Bologna, Bologna. sergio.unibo@unibo.it
authors.forename: Sergio Zaccaria
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Scalinci
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scorolli
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corradetti
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Domanico
authors.forename: Enzo Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vingolo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meduri
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bifani
authors.forename: Duilio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siravo