title: Application of adipose-derived stem cells on scleral contact lens carrier in an animal model of severe acute alkaline burn.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the therapeutic effect of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) overlaid on a scleral contact lens (SCL) carrier in a rabbit model of ocular alkaline burn.
  
  
  METHODS
  After inducing alkaline burn in 11 New Zealand white rabbits, hASCs cultured on SCLs were placed on the right eye of 5 rabbits, SCLs without cells were used in 5, and no treatment was applied in 1 eye. Each eye was examined and photographed for corneal vascularization, opacities, and epithelial defect in week 1, 2, and 4 after surgery. After 1 month, rabbits were killed and the corneas were removed and cut in half for electron and light microscopy examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human adipose-derived stem cells were attached to SCL surface and confluent easily. Human adipose-derived stem cells on SCL eyes showed smaller epithelial defect, less corneal opacity, corneal neovascularization relative to SCL eyes. Both groups showed no symblepharon. However, the cornea in the untreated eye was melted in 2 weeks and developed severe symblepharon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human adipose-derived stem cells on SCL can reduce inflammation and corneal haziness in severe ocular alkaline burn injury in rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology (L.E.), Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC; Department of Ophthalmology (D.C., R.W.), School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA; Instituto Oftalmobiologia Aplicada (T.B-M.), University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain; Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine (S.Z., B.B.), New Orleans, LA; Department of Pharmacology (S.Z., B.B.), School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA; and Division of Regenerative Medicine (B.B.), Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA.
authors.forename: Ladan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Espandar
authors.forename: Delmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blanco-Mezquita
authors.forename: Shijia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bunnell
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003261:Contact Lenses; D065306:Corneal Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000473:pathology; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011817:Rabbits; D012590:Sclera; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation