HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 2005-0046v1 24/2/315    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints/Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ma, Y. Articles by Li, L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ma, Y. Articles by Li, L.

TISSUE-SPECIFIC STEM CELLS

Reconstruction of Chemically Burned Rat Corneal Surface by Bone Marrow–Derived Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

^a Peking University Stem Cell Research Center and Cell Biology Department;
^b Department of Ophthalmology, The 3rd Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China

Key Words. Mesenchymal stem cell • Cornea • Transplantation • Angiogenesis and inflammation

Correspondence: Lingsong Li, M.D., Ph.D., Peking University Stem Cell Research Center, 38 Xueyuan Rd., Haidian, Beijing, China 100083. Telephone: 86-10-82802173; Fax: 86-10-82802152; e-mail: lingsongli{at}bjmu.edu.cn

To examine whether transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could reconstruct the corneal damage and also whether grafted MSCs could differentiate into corneal epithelial cells, we isolated MSCs from healthy donors. After growth and expansion on amniotic membrane, cells were transplanted into rat corneas 7 days after chemical burns. Reconstruction of the damaged cornea and the rat vision were measured once a week by slit lamp and by an optokinetic head-tracking instrument, respectively. Corneas were then cut out, fixed, and imbedded for immunofluorescent study of the expression of keratin 3 and keratin-pan as epithelial cell markers. Expression of CD45, interleukin 2, and metalloproteinase-2 was also investigated for inflammation and inflammation-related angiogenesis. The data showed that transplantation of MSCs, like limbal epithelial stem cells, successfully reconstructed damaged rat corneal surface. Interestingly, the therapeutic effect of the transplantation may be associated with the inhibition of inflammation and angiogenesis after transplantation of MSCs rather than the epithelial differentiation from MSCs. This study provides the first line of evidence that MSCs can be used for reconstruction of damaged corneas, presenting a new source for autotransplantation in the treatment of corneal disorders.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K.E. Schwab, P. Hutchinson, and C.E. Gargett Identification of surface markers for prospective isolation of human endometrial stromal colony-forming cells Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2008; 23(4): 934 - 943. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Y. Oh, M. K. Kim, M. S. Shin, H. J. Lee, J. H. Ko, W. R. Wee, and J. H. Lee The Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Angiogenic Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Corneal Wound Healing Following Chemical Injury Stem Cells, April 1, 2008; 26(4): 1047 - 1055. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. G. Phinney and D. J. Prockop Concise Review: Mesenchymal Stem/Multipotent Stromal Cells: The State of Transdifferentiation and Modes of Tissue Repair Current Views Stem Cells, November 1, 2007; 25(11): 2896 - 2902. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Mimeault and S. K. Batra Concise Review: Recent Advances on the Significance of Stem Cells in Tissue Regeneration and Cancer Therapies Stem Cells, November 1, 2006; 24(11): 2319 - 2345. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]