title: Efficacy of topical mesenchymal stem cell therapy in the treatment of experimental dry eye syndrome model.
abstract: Purpose. The current study was set out to address the therapeutic efficacy of topically applied mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on dry eye syndrome (DES) induced by benzalkonium chloride (BAC) in rats. Methods. Rats were divided into two groups just after establishment of DES. Eye drops containing either bromodeoxyuridine labeled MSCs (n = 9) or phosphate buffer solution (n = 7) were topically applied once daily for one week. Schirmer test, break-up time score, ocular surface evaluation tests, and corneal inflammatory index scoring tests were applied to all rats at baseline and after treatment. All rats were sacrificed after one week for histological and electron microscopic analysis. Results. Mean aqueous tear volume and tear film stability were significantly increased in rats treated with MSCs (P < 0.05). Infiltration of bromodeoxyuridine labeled MSCs into the meibomian glands and conjunctival epithelium was observed in MSCs treated rats. Increased number of secretory granules and number of goblet cells were observed in MSCs treated rats. Conclusion. Topical application of MSCs could be a safe and effective method for the treatment of DES and could potentially be used for further clinical research studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Samsun Research and Training Hospital, Kıranköy Mevkii, 55100 Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emrullah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beyazyıldız
authors.affiliation: Center of Cell Research and Genetic Diagnosis, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Research Hospital, Etlik, 06010 Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ferda Alpaslan
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Pınarlı
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Samsun Research and Training Hospital, Kıranköy Mevkii, 55100 Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Beyazyıldız
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Kastamonu Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06230 Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine Rümeysa
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Hekimoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kastamonu Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06230 Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Bilkent, 06800 Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammed Necati
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Research and Training Hospital, Dışkapı, 06110 Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aynur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albayrak
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06230 Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kaymaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06230 Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Güngör
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sobacı
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Kastamonu Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06230 Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Delibaşı