Therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in rats with optic nerve injury

Looi SY 1 , Bastion MC 1 , Leow SN 1 , Luu CD 2 , Hairul NMH 1 , Ruhaslizan R 1 Show all authors , Wong HS 1 , Wan Haslina AH 1 , Ng MH 3 , Idrus Ruszymah BH 3 , Then KY 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia
  • 2 Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital; Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  • 3 Tissue Engineering Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia; International Specialist Eye Centre, Midvalley, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Indian J Ophthalmol, 2022 Jan;70(1):201-209.
PMID: 34937239 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_473_21

Abstract

Purpose: There are no effective treatments currently available for optic nerve transection injuries. Stem cell therapy represents a feasible future treatment option. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) transplantation in rats with optic nerve injury.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups: a no-treatment control group (n = 6), balanced salt solution (BSS) treatment group (n = 6), and hUC-MSCs treatment group (n = 6). Visual functions were assessed by flash visual evoked potential (fVEP) at baseline, Week 3, and Week 6 after optic nerve crush injury. Right eyes were enucleated after 6 weeks for histology.

Results: The fVEP showed shortened latency delay and increased amplitude in the hUC-MSCs treated group compared with control and BSS groups. Higher cellular density was detected in the hUC-MSC treated group compared with the BSS and control groups. Co-localized expression of STEM 121 and anti-S100B antibody was observed in areas of higher nuclear density, both in the central and peripheral regions.

Conclusion: Peribulbar transplantation of hUC-MSCs demonstrated cellular integration that can potentially preserve the optic nerve function with a significant shorter latency delay in fVEP and higher nuclear density on histology, and immunohistochemical studies observed cell migration particularly to the peripheral regions of the optic nerve.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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