The Antiangiogenic Properties of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells in Corneal Neovascularization in a Rabbit Model

The purpose was to study the anti-angiogenic effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (ADMSCs) on experimentally induced corneal injuries. Corneal neovascularization (NV) was induced by incising and subsequently suturing the corneal surface in 32 New Zealand rabbits. Following suturing, the rabbits were randomly allocated into 2 groups, and received either phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (control) or ADMSCs, both administered via three different routes. Digital images of the cornea were obtained two weeks post-incision to measure the area of neovascularized cornea. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was immunohistochemically assessed in the both groups. The corneal tissue was evaluated for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The extent of corneal NV in all eyes was assessed photographically by an independent observer. Fourteen days after the incisions, the degree of corneal NV was substantially decreased in the ADMSC-treated group (1.87 ± 0.9 mm2, 1.4 % ± 0.67 % of corneal surface) compared to the control and PBS-treated group (4.66 ± 1.74 mm2, 3.51 % ± 1.31 %, p < 0.001). ADMSCs significantly decreased injury-induced corneal NV in New Zealand rabbits two weeks post-treatment. This strategy has potential for use in the control of corneal NV in vivo.Â

The Antiangiogenic Properties of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells in Corneal Neovascularization in a Rabbit Model

The purpose was to study the anti-angiogenic effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (ADMSCs) on experimentally induced corneal injuries. Corneal neovascularization (NV) was induced by incising and subsequently suturing the corneal surface in 32 New Zealand rabbits. Following suturing, the rabbits were randomly allocated into 2 groups, and received either phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (control) or ADMSCs, both administered via three different routes. Digital images of the cornea were obtained two weeks post-incision to measure the area of neovascularized cornea. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was immunohistochemically assessed in the both groups. The corneal tissue was evaluated for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The extent of corneal NV in all eyes was assessed photographically by an independent observer. Fourteen days after the incisions, the degree of corneal NV was substantially decreased in the ADMSC-treated group (1.87 ± 0.9 mm2, 1.4 % ± 0.67 % of corneal surface) compared to the control and PBS-treated group (4.66 ± 1.74 mm2, 3.51 % ± 1.31 %, p < 0.001). ADMSCs significantly decreased injury-induced corneal NV in New Zealand rabbits two weeks post-treatment. This strategy has potential for use in the control of corneal NV in vivo.

Experimental application of mesenchymal stem cells in corneal injuries in rabbits

Νeovascularization (NV) compromises corneal opacity and immune privilege, resulting in endangering vision integrity. Topical application of stem cells inhibits the aforementioned process, balancing the production of anti- and angiogenic agents. Methods: A well described model of penetrating injury was modified to assess the effect of ADMSCs (adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells) on corneal wound healing and corneal NV. The purpose was to study the anti-angiogenic properties of ADMSCs with allogeneic transplantation and local application via three different routes. The control group received PBS (Phosphate-Buffered Saline) the same way respectively. The extent of corneal NV in all eyes was photographically assessed on day 14 postoperatively. On the same day, the animals were sacrificed and the eye sections were stained for morphological evaluation by a pathologist. The expression of VEGF and TNF-α was evaluated and the slides were studied by light microscopy. Results: Eyes treated with ADMSCs exhibited limited corneal NV and inflammation compared with the control group. Treatment with ADMSCs after induced cornea injury produced no staining for VEGF, as opposed to control eyes. Staining for TNF-α expression was not detected in the ADMSCs-treated corneas while it was detected in the corneal stroma as well as in the epithelium of the control group. Conclusion: Early-onset allogeneic transplantation with topical application of ADMSCs can lead to significant inhibition of angiogenetic and inflammatory factors by strongly reducing corneal NV 14 days after treatment. Further research is needed to standardize the effective dose of ADMSCs, the frequency of its administration as well as the ideal application mode.Η νεοαγγειογένεση εκθέτει την αδιαφάνεια και το ανοσολογικό προνόμιο του κερατοειδή σε κίνδυνο, με συνέπεια να διακυβεύεται η ακεραιότητα της όρασης. Η τοπική εφαρμογή πολυδύναμων μεσεγχυματικών κυττάρων αναστέλλει την προαναφερόμενη διεργασία εξισορροπώντας την παραγωγή των αντι- και αγγειογενετικών παραγόντων. Μέθοδος: Με την χρήση μοντέλου πρόκλησης νεοαγγείωσης με ράμματα σε κονίκλους New Zealand μετά από διατιτραίνον τραύμα, μελετήθηκε η αντιαγγειογενετική ιδιότητα βλαστοκυττάρων προερχόμενα από λιπώδη ιστό με αλλογενή μεταμόσχευση και τοπική εφαρμογή τους με τρεις διαφορετικούς τρόπους. Στην ομάδα ελέγχου έγινε εφαρμογή διαλύμματος χωρίς βλαστοκύτταρα. Πραγματοποιήθηκε μέτρηση της προκαλούμενης νεοαγγείωσης στον κερατοειδή μετά από φωτογράφιση την 14η ημέρα μετεγχειρητικά. Την ίδια ημέρα έγινε ευθανασία των πειραματόζωων και οι κερατοειδείς στάλθηκαν προς ιστολογική και ανοσοϊστοχημική ανάλυση. Αποτελέσματα: Τα βλαστοκύτταρα στους οφθαλμούς που εφαρμόστηκαν, μείωσαν την νεοαγγείωση συγκριτικά με την ομάδα ελέγχου καθώς και την φλεγμονή. Κατά την ανάλυση της ανοσοϊστοχημείας με ανοσοχρώση για VEGF δεν ανιχνεύθηκαν τριχοειδή αγγεία σε όσους οφθαλμούς εγχύθηκαν βλαστοκύτταρα. Αντίστοιχα ήταν και τα αποτελέσματα για την ανοσοχρώση για TNF-α με δέσμευση της χρώσης σε όλα τα κύτταρα των κερατοειδών της ομάδας ελέγχου χωρίς ανίχνευσή τους στην ομάδα των βλαστοκυττάρων. Συμπεράσματα: Η πρώιμη αλλογενής μεταμόσχευση με τοπική εφαρμογή βλαστοκυττάρων προερχόμενων από λιπώδη ιστό, μειώνει την έκφραση αγγειογενετικών και φλεγμονωδών παραγόντων επιφέροντας ισχυρή ελλάτωση της έκτασης της κερατοειδικής νεοαγγείωσης, δείχνοντας την αποτελεσματικότητα των βλαστοκυττάρων για τουλάχιστον 14 ημέρες μετά την θεραπεία, σε ένα περιβάλλον περιορισμένης φλεγμονώδους αντίδρασης. Περαιτέρω έρευνα είναι απαραίτητη για να προσδιοριστεί η αποτελεσματική δόση τους, η συχνότητα καθώς και ο ιδανικός τρόπος έγχυσης τους

Optical Coherence Tomography and Optical Coherence Tomography with Angiography in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and neurodegenerative, potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system. OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) and OCT-A (Optical Coherence Tomography with Angiography) are imaging techniques for the retina and choroid that are used in the diagnosis and monitoring of ophthalmological conditions. Their use has recently expanded the study of several autoimmune disorders, including MS. Although their application in MS remains unclear, the results seem promising. This review aimed to provide insight into the most recent OCT and OCT-A findings in MS and may function as a reference point for future research. According to the current literature, the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform complex (GC-IPL) are significantly reduced in people with MS and are inversely correlated with disease duration. The use of OCT might help distinguish between MS and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), as the latter presents with more pronounced thinning in both the RNFL and GC-IPL. The OCT-A findings in MS include reduced vessel density in the macula, peripapillary area, or both, and the enlargement of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in the setting of optic neuritis. Additionally, OCT-A might be able to detect damage in the very early stages of the disease as well as disease progression in severe cases

Differentiating Degenerative from Vascular Dementia with the Help of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Biomarkers

Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia account for the majority of cases of cognitive decline in elderly people. These two main forms of dementia, under which various subtypes fall, are often overlapping and, in some cases, definitive diagnosis may only be possible post-mortem. This has implications for the quality of care and the design of individualized interventions for these patients. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive imaging modality used to visualize the retinal layers and vessels which shows encouraging results in the study of various neurological conditions, including dementia. This review aims to succinctly sum up the present state of knowledge and provide critical insight into emerging patterns of OCTA biomarker values in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. According to the current literature, vessel density seems to be a common biomarker for both forms; inner retinal layer thickness might represent a biomarker preferentially affected in degenerative dementia including Alzheimer’s, while, in contrast, the outer-layer thickness as a whole justifies attention as a potential vascular dementia biomarker. Radial peripapillary capillary density should also be further studied as a biomarker specifically linked to vascular dementia