Abstract
BackgroundTo study the therapeutic effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) against retinal neovascularization and to compare with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy.MethodsNeonatal C57BL/6 mice were exposed in hyperoxygen and returned to room air to develop oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). Red fluorescent protein-labeled BMSC and Conbercept were intravitreally injected into OIR mice, respectively. Inhibition of neovascularization and apoptosis in OIR mice were assessed through retinal angiography, histopathology and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay.ResultsBMSC were able to migrate and integrate into the host retina, significantly inhibit retinal neovascular tufts and remodel the capillary network after injecton. Treatment with BMSC increased the retinal vascular density, decreased the number of acellular capillaries and inhibited retinal cell death. This effect was not inferior to current anti-VEGF therapy by using Conbercept.ConclusionsIntravitreal injection of BMSC exerts a protective effect against retinal neovascularization and offers a therapeutic strategy for oxygen-induced retinopathy.
Highlights
To study the therapeutic effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) against retinal neovascularization and to compare with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy
Higher doses of intravitreal injection of BMSC tend to induce proliferative retinopathy, our results revealed that lower dose injection of BMSC yielded protective effects against retinal neovascularization, but not inferior to anti-VEGF therapy
Our findings provide a therapeutic strategy against retinopathy of prematurity, attention should be paid on the induction of potential proliferative vitroretinopathy with BMSC injection
Summary
To study the therapeutic effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) against retinal neovascularization and to compare with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. Pathological retinal neovascularization is a major cause of visual diminution and at times even leads to blindness. It refers to the incomplete and unhealthy architecture of the vasculature in many retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and retinal vein occlusion. These diseases involve damage of the retinal vessels, causing exudation of the fluid, hemorrhage or vessel obstruction, and proliferation. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy has led to a breakthrough in the treatment of retinal neovascularization [2].
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