Abstract
Introduction: Glaucoma is a common neurodegenerative disease for which current therapies are often insufficient. The purpose of our investigation was to determine whether Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells (OPCs), a type of neural stem cell, can protect Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs) from glaucomatous damage in vivo. Methods: Intraocular pressure was chronically increased by trabecular laser treatment delivered unilaterally to adult rat eyes. OPCs were isolated in vitro and then transplanted intra vitreally either before, or concurrent with, injury induction. Results: Transplanted OPCs were found to survive within the eye for at least 12 weeks and to localize close to the RGCs. Moreover, OPCs significantly enhanced the survival of RGCs in the glaucomatous eye, but only when concomitantly activated by inflammation.. Amelioration of RGC death was not attributable to inflammation but relied on an interaction between inflammatory cells and OPCs. Engrafted cells also displayed multipotentiality in vivo.
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