Circulating mononuclear progenitor cells: differential roles for subpopulations in repair of retinal vascular injury.

Purpose: We examined effect on retinal vascular homing of exogenous CD34(+) and CD14(+) progenitor cells using mouse models of chronic (streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetes) and acute (ischemia-reperfusion [I/R]) ocular vascular injury.

Methods: STZ-treated mice of short or long duration (≤4, ≥11 months) diabetes, along with age- and sex-matched controls, were given intravitreous injections of human CD34(+) and CD14(+) cells isolated from healthy or diabetic donors alone or in combination. I/R injured mice were given diabetic or nondiabetic CD34(+) cells with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or diabetic CD34(+) cells manipulated by ex vivo fucosylation with ASC-101. Injected cells were localized by fluorescent immunocytochemistry, and the degree of retinal vascular colocalization quantified morphometrically. Permeability was assessed by fluorescent albumin leakage.

Results: Diabetic CD14(+) cells associated with vessels to a greater degree than diabetic CD34(+) cells. Vascular permeability was reduced only by nondiabetic cells and only at the highest number of cells tested. Diabetic CD34(+) cells consistently demonstrated reduced migration. There was a 2-fold or 4-fold increase over control in the specific localization of diabetic CD34(+) cells within the vasculature when these cells were co-administered with MSCs or ex vivo fucosylated prior to injection, respectively.

Conclusions: Diabetic CD14(+) cells, unlike diabetic CD34(+) cells, retain robust homing characteristics. CD34(+) or CD14(+) subsets rather than whole bone marrow or peripheral blood cells may prove more beneficial in autologous cell therapy for diabetics. Co-administration with MSCs or ex vivo fucosylation may enhance utility of CD34(+) cells in cell therapy for diabetic ocular conditions like macular ischemia and retinal nonperfusion.