Transplantation of quantum dot-labelled bone marrow-derived stem cells into the vitreous of mice with laser-induced retinal injury: Survival, integration and differentiation

• Published in: Vision research (Oxford) Vol. 50; no. 7; pp. 665 - 673
• Main Authors: Wang, Heuy-Ching, Brown, Jeremiah, Alayon, Helena, Stuck, Bruce E.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 31-03-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Cell Movement - physiology; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival - physiology; Chemokine CXCL12 - metabolism; Choroid neovascularization; Disease Models, Animal; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation - methods; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - cytology; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - metabolism; Immunohistochemistry; Intravitreal Injections; Laser-induced retinal injury; Lasers - adverse effects; Lineage negative bone marrow cells; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Photoreceptor apoptosis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Quantum Dots; Retina - cytology; Retina - injuries; Retina - surgery; Retinal pigment epithelium; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Vitreous Body - surgery; Choroid neovascularization; Laser-induced retinal injury; Lineage negative bone marrow cells; Retinal pigment epithelium; Photoreceptor apoptosis; Stem cell; Rodentia; Photoreceptor; Pigment epithelium; Retina; Transplantation; Survival; Eye; Visual system; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Bone marrow; Lesion; Neovascularization; Differentiation; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0042-6989; 1878-5646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2009.09.003

Accidental laser exposure to the eyes may result in serious visual impairment due to retina degeneration. Currently limited treatment is available for laser eye injury. In the current study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) for laser-induced retinal trauma. Lineage negative bone marrow cells (Lin
− BMCs) were labelled with quantum dots (Qdots) to track the cells
in vivo. Lin
− BMCs survived well after intravitreal injection.
In vivo bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labelling showed these cells continued to proliferate and integrate into injured retinas. Furthermore, they expressed markers that distinguished retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), endothelium, pericytes and photoreceptors. Our results suggest that BMSCs participate in the repair of retinal lesions by differentiating into retinal cells. Intravitreal transplantation of BMSCs is a potential treatment for laser-induced retinal trauma.