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Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS: Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness involving loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGC). Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have shown promise as a paracrine-mediated therapy for compromised neurons. It is, however, unknown whether dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) are effective as a cellular therapy in glaucoma and how their hypothesized influence compares with other more widely researched MSC sources. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells, bone marrow-derived MSC (BMSC) and DPSC in preventing the loss of RGC and visual function when transplanted into the vitreous of glaucomatous rodent eyes.
METHODS: Thirty-five days after raised intraocular pressure (IOP) and intravitreal stem cell transplantation, Brn3a(+) RGC numbers, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFL) and RGC function were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, optical coherence tomography and electroretinography, respectively.
RESULTS: Control glaucomatous eyes that were sham-treated with heat-killed DPSC had a significant loss of RGC numbers, RNFL thickness and function compared with intact eyes. BMSC and, to a greater extent, DPSC provided significant protection from RGC loss and RNFL thinning and preserved RGC function.
DISCUSSION: The study supports the use of DPSC as a neuroprotective cellular therapy in retinal degenerative disease such as glaucoma.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 487-496 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Cytotherapy |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 17 Feb 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2016 |
Keywords
- dental pulp stem cells
- glaucoma
- stem cell transplantation
- mesenchymal stromal cells
- neuroprotection
- retinal ganglion cells
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Dive into the research topics of 'Mesenchymal stromal cell-mediated neuroprotection and functional preservation of retinal ganglion cells in a rodent model of glaucoma'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Development of a novel stem cell therapy for optic nerve damage
Scheven, B., Leadbeater, W. & Logan, A.
1/10/13 → 30/09/15
Project: Research