Cell therapy of congenital corneal diseases with umbilical mesenchymal stem cells: Lumican null mice
Journal
PLoS ONE
Journal Volume
5
Journal Issue
5
Pages
e10707
Date Issued
2010
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Keratoplasty is the most effective treatment for corneal blindness, but suboptimal medical conditions and lack of qualified medical personnel and donated cornea often prevent the performance of corneal transplantation in developing countries. Our study aims to develop alternative treatment regimens for congenital corneal diseases of genetic mutation. Methodology/Principal Findings: Human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from neonatal umbilical cords were transplanted to treat thin and cloudy corneas of lumican null mice. Transplantation of umbilical mesenchymal stem cells significantly improved corneal transparency and increased stromal thickness of lumican null mice, but human umbilical hematopoietic stem cells failed to do the same. Further studies revealed that collagen lamellae were re-organized in corneal stroma of lumican null mice after mesenchymal stem cell transplantation. Transplanted umbilical mesenchymal stem cells survived in the mouse corneal stroma for more than 3 months with little or no graft rejection. In addition, these cells assumed a keratocyte phenotype, e.g., dendritic morphology, quiescence, expression of keratocyte unique keratan sulfated keratocan and lumican, and CD34. Moreover, umbilical mesenchymal stem cell transplantation improved host keratocyte functions, which was verified by enhanced expression of keratocan and aldehyde dehydrogenase class 3A1 in lumican null mice. Conclusions/Significance: Umbilical mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is a promising treatment for congenital corneal diseases involving keratocyte dysfunction. Unlike donated corneas, umbilical mesenchymal stem cells are easily isolated, expanded, stored, and can be quickly recovered from liquid nitrogen when a patient is in ugent need. ? 2010 Liu et al.
Other Subjects
aldehyde dehydrogenase; biological marker; CD34 antigen; keratocan; lumican; aldehyde dehydrogenase; Aldh3a1protein, mouse; biological marker; collagen; Kera protein, mouse; keratan sulfate; lumican; proteochondroitin sulfate; proteoglycan; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; cell function; cell isolation; cell proliferation; cell structure; cell survival; congenital disorder; controlled study; cord blood stem cell transplantation; cornea disease; cornea opacity; cornea stroma; cornea thickness; dendritic cell; experimental model; graft rejection; hematopoietic stem cell; human; human cell; lamellar body; light scattering; mesenchymal stem cell; mesenchymal stem cell transplantation; mouse; newborn; nonhuman; phenotype; protein expression; therapy effect; animal; apoptosis; cell separation; cell shape; cornea; cytology; flow cytometry; mesenchymal stem cell; metabolism; pathology; stroma cell; transplantation; umbilical cord; upregulation; Mus; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; Animals; Apoptosis; Biological Markers; Cell Proliferation; Cell Separation; Cell Shape; Cell Survival; Collagen; Cornea; Corneal Diseases; Dendritic Cells; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Keratan Sulfate; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Mice; Proteochondroitin Sulfates; Proteoglycans; Stromal Cells; Umbilical Cord; Up-Regulation
Type
journal article