Clinical and Histopathological Study of the Effect of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Corneal Neovascularization following Alkali Burn in a Rabbit Model

The cornea, the transparent part of the eye, performs a significant function in eyesight by refracting the light to focus a visual image. Since the cornea is indispensable for vision, corneal inflammation may induce visual disturbance and blindness. Several investigations have reported that various corneal inflammatory diseases cause visual impairment and chronic inflammation of the cornea, which can lead to blindness. The present study aimed to assess the effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) on corneal healing after alkali injuries. Corneal alkali injuries were induced in the eyes of 20 rabbits. The MSC group (n=10) was treated with subconjunctival injections, while the control group (n=10) was left without any treatment. Rabbits underwent slit-lamp examination and photography and were evaluated for corneal neovascularization. Based on the histological evaluation, the eyes treated with MSCs showed better recovery. Furthermore, the MSC and control groups were significantly different in the degree of corneal neovascularization and re-epithelialization, as well as the elevation of the neovascular tissue at two and four weeks post-surgery.