Early detection of optic nerve head changes using optical coherence tomography after using mesenchymal stromal cells as intravitreal therapy in rabbit models of ocular hypertension

Karine dos Santos Evangelho, Carlos Cifuentes-González, William Rojas-Carabali, Clemencia De Vivero-Arciniegas, Mariana Cañas-Arboleda, Gustavo Salguero, Carolina Ramírez-Santana, Alejandra de-la-Torre

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch Articlepeer-review

Abstract

Background and Aim: Stem cell therapy is considered a promising treatment for several neurodegenerative diseases. However, there are very few studies on the use of this therapy in glaucoma models. By detecting the changes produced by glaucoma early, cell therapy could help prevent the events that lead to blindness. In this study, early changes in the optic nerve head (ONH) as detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT) after the application of human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hWJ-MSCs) in an experimental model of ocular hypertension (OH) were evaluated.

Materials and Methods: Fifteen New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into the following three groups: G1: OH, G2: hWJ-MSCs, and G3: OH + hWJ-MSCs. An OH model was constructed, and the intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured regularly. At week 7, 105/100 μL hWJ-MSCs were intravitreally injected. Retinography and OCT were used to evaluate structural changes in ONH.

Results: IOP increased significantly in G1 and G3 from week 3 onward. Retinography revealed more significant optic nerve changes, that is, papillary asymmetry suggestive of optic nerve excavation, vascular alterations, and irregular hypopigmentation peripheral to the optic disk margin, in G1 compared with G3. OH locates the hWJ-MSCs solution in the vitreous in front of the optic nerve. OCT revealed retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) reduction in all groups, reduced optic cup volume in G2 and G3 between weeks 1 and 9, and significant ganglion cell layer thickness reduction in G1 and a slight increase in G3.

Conclusion: Intravitreal hWJ-MSCs injection produced changes in optic cup volume, which were detected early on by OCT; however, RNFL could not be restored in this OH model.

Keywords: glaucoma, mesenchymal stromal cell, ocular hypertension, optic nerve head, optical coherence tomography, rabbit.
Translated title of the contributionDetección precoz de cambios en la cabeza del nervio óptico mediante tomografía de coherencia óptica tras el uso de células estromales mesenquimales como terapia intravítrea en modelos de conejo de hipertensión ocular.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)500–508
Number of pages8
JournalVeterinary World
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 29 2024

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ophthalmology

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