Unlike humans, rabbit corneal endothelial wounds are known to spontaneously heal. The current study was aimed to develop a new rabbit bullous keratopathy model using corneal endothelial cells that were induced to undergo endothelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT). EMT was induced in rabbit corneal endothelial cells (RCECs) by culturing with TGFβ and basic FGF Supplemented Medium. The corneal endothelia in recipient rabbits were mechanically scraped from the corneal endothelial surface inside an 8 mm mark. Then, a suspension of EMT-induced RCECs (EMT-RCECs) was injected into the anterior chamber. Eyes injected with freshly isolated RCECs (Fresh RCECs group) and eyes that were scraped without injection of cells (Scrape group) were used as controls. Immediately following operation, subepithelial and stromal edema was observed with increased central corneal thickness and corneal opacity in all groups. In the EMT-RCECs group, bullous keratopathy persisted for 42 days up to the end of the study. In the Fresh-RCECs and Scrape groups, corneal transparency and thickness recovered by 7 days after treatment and was maintained up to 42 days. The activated fibroblast marker, α-SMA, was observed spanning from corneal endothelium to corneal stroma in the EMT-RCECs group. Interestingly, α-SMA was upregulated in the Scrape-group as well. In all groups, there was no damage to other intraocular structures, and intraocular pressure was normal throughout the observation period. Transplanting a fresh donor cornea effectively treated corneal edema due to bullous keratopathy. This model is a promising tool for pre-clinical trials in the development of new therapies against corneal endothelial dysfunction.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6237874 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35110-2 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Intracellular dark endothelial spots detected using specular microscopy are associated with graft failure after Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty.
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol
January 2025
Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Visual Sciences, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchi-kamicho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan.
Purpose: To investigate the correlation between intracellular dark endothelial spots (IDESs) detected by specular microscopy and the incidence of graft failure after Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).
Methods: We reviewed 100 consecutive DMEK patients performed by a single surgeon at two centres between January 2015 and July 2022. Central corneal thickness was evaluated using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (SS-1000; Tomey, Aichi, Japan), and endothelial cell density was measured using specular microscopy.
A Pilot Case Series on the Use of a Large Mushroom-Shaped Corneal Graft for the Surgical Management of Post-Penetrating Keratoplasty Ectasia and Endothelial Failure.
J Clin Med
January 2025
Eye Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a surgical technique for managing post-penetrating keratoplasty (PK) ectasia complicated by late endothelial failure (LEF). : A single-center pilot case series was conducted regarding consecutive patients affected by post-PK ectasia with late graft failure. Using a microkeratome, a single donor cornea was dissected to prepare a two-piece graft, comprising a larger anterior lamella made up of anterior stroma and a smaller posterior lamella made up of posterior stroma, Descemet's membrane, and endothelium.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomedical Application of MSCs in Corneal Regeneration and Repair.
Int J Mol Sci
January 2025
Cell Engineering Laboratory, La Paz University Hospital Health Research Institute, IdiPAZ, 28046 Madrid, Spain.
The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 285 million people suffer from visual impairments, around 5% of which are caused by corneal pathologies. Currently, the most common clinical treatment consists of a corneal transplant (keratoplasty) from a human donor. However, worldwide demand for donor corneas amply exceeds the available supply.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeovascular Glaucoma as the First Symptom of Bilateral Occlusive Retinal Vasculitis in a 4-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report.
Biomedicines
January 2025
Department of the Pediatric Ophthalmology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland.
Neovascular glaucoma is a rare and serious condition typically associated with advanced ocular or systemic vascular diseases such as central retinal vein occlusion or diabetic retinopathy. This report describes a unique case of neovascular glaucoma presenting for the first time as an initial symptom of bilateral occlusive retinal vasculitis (ORV) in a generally healthy 4-year-old girl. The patient presented with symptoms of pain and redness in the left eye, accompanied by high intraocular pressure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEstablishment of an Ex Vivo Human Corneal Endothelium Wound Model.
Transl Vis Sci Technol
January 2025
UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.
Purpose: A human model able to simulate the manifestation of corneal endothelium decompensation could be advantageous for wound healing and future cell therapy assessment. The study aimed to establish an ex vivo human cornea endothelium wound model where endothelium function can be evaluated by measuring corneal thickness changes.
Methods: The human cornea was maintained in an artificial anterior chamber, with a continuous culture medium infusion system designed to sustain corneal endothelium and epithelium simultaneously.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!