title: Targeting growth factor supply in keratopathy treatment: comparison between maternal peripheral blood and cord blood as sources for the preparation of topical eye drops.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epitheliotrophic growth factors (GF) can be supplied topically to patients with severe keratopathy through a variety of blood-derived products. We compared GF content in adult peripheral blood serum (PB-S) and cord blood serum (CB-S) as potential sources of GF. To limit inter-individual variability the assessment was performed in maternal-child pairs at the time of delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The amounts of epidermal GF (EGF), insulin-like GF (IGF), transforming GF-beta (TGF-β), vascular endothelial GF (VEGF) in CB units collected from the umbilical vein and PB from mothers (each group n=30) were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Obstetric characteristics and haematological data were recorded from the archives of the Emilia Romagna Cord Blood Bank. Statistical evaluations were performed by Wilcoxon's test and correlations between variables were determined using Spearman's (ρ) coefficient; p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EGF, TGF-β and VEGF levels were significantly higher in CB-S than in PB-S (median 1,254.4 vs 646.0 pg/mL, 51.3 vs 38.4 μg/mL and 686.8 vs 30 pg/mL, respectively; all p<0.0001) whereas IGF content was significantly higher in PB-S than in CB-S (159.9 vs 53.5 pg/mL, respectively; p<0.0001). In CB-S, the CD34(+) cell concentration appeared to be related to EGF, IGF and TGF-β levels whereas white blood cell count appeared to be related to EGF and TGF-β levels. VEGF levels showed no relation to the haematological parameters considered. Platelet counts were not related to GF level in either CB or PB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GF content in the two blood sources was different, with CB containing larger amounts. Each GF selectively regulates cellular processes involved in corneal healing, so the use of PB or CB should be targeted to supply specific GF on the basis of the type and severity of the keratopathy.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna and S. Orsola-Malpighi Teaching Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Versura
authors.affiliation: Emilia Romagna Cord Blood Bank-Transfusion Service, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna and S. Orsola-Malpighi Teaching Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buzzi
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna and S. Orsola-Malpighi Teaching Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannaccare
authors.affiliation: Emilia Romagna Cord Blood Bank-Transfusion Service, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna and S. Orsola-Malpighi Teaching Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terzi
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna and S. Orsola-Malpighi Teaching Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fresina
authors.affiliation: Emilia Romagna Cord Blood Bank-Transfusion Service, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna and S. Orsola-Malpighi Teaching Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Velati
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna and S. Orsola-Malpighi Teaching Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilio C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Campos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007634:Keratitis; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions