Histological Study on the Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Corneal Wound Healing in Acute Chemical Injury in Rats

Background and Aim of Work: Corneal diseases are a major cause of blindness in the world; complications are the result of exaggerated inflammatory reaction which is beyond the physiological response occurring during corneal wound healing. Limiting inflammation and controlling the angiogenic response together with enhancing epithelial covering are critical aspects of therapy. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the role of MSCs in the alkali-induced acute corneal injury in rats by immunohistochemical methods. Methods and Results: Twenty five healthy adult albino rats were divided into: Group I Control Group (n=5) had irrigation with normal saline in their left eyes. Group II (injured) had a corneal alkali burn in their left eyes and were sacrificed after one week (gIIa n=5) and after 2 weeks (gIIb n=5) following the burn. Group III rats were injured and subconjunctivally injected with 0.1ml Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS) containing 2 X 10 6 labeled MSCs (treated). (gIIIa n=5) received single injection of the MSCs immediately at the time of injury and (gIIIb n=5) received double injections of the MSCs one immediately at the time of injury and the 2nd on the 3 rd day of the burn and were sacrificed 1 week after injury. Left corneas were harvested and CD44, PCNA and VEGF immunoreactivity were studied by immunohistochemical methods. Statistical analyses were performed using the ANOVA test. MSCs proved to have a therapeutic role in corneal wound healing which may be through an anti-angiogenic role. Conclusion: Subconjunctival injection of MSCs may have a positive beneficial effect in treating corneal injury. MSCs can exert a positive influence on the native corneal cell proliferation. Its action may be through an anti-angiogenic role.