Functional Evaluation of Two Corneal Endothelial Cell-Based Therapies: Tissue-Engineered Construct and Cell Injection

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Corneal blindness due to endothelial dysfunction is a significant cause of vision loss.
• Traditional corneal transplantation faces challenges due to a global shortage of donor tissues.
• Cell-based therapeutics are emerging as a viable alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the functionality of propagated human corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs) delivered via two methods: tissue-engineered endothelial keratoplasty (TE-EK) and corneal endothelial cell injection (CE-CI).
• To assess the efficacy of these cell-based therapies in a rabbit model of bullous keratopathy.

Main Methods:

• Propagated regulatory-compliant human CEnCs were delivered using TE-EK and CE-CI techniques in rabbits.
• Corneal clarity and central corneal thickness (CCT) were monitored post-operatively.
• Excised corneas were analyzed using immunohistochemistry to confirm the presence and function of human CEnCs.

Main Results:

• TE-EK grafts showed initial thickening followed by gradual thinning and improved corneal clarity, with CCT reaching 484.3 ± 73.7 μm at week 3.
• CE-CI maintained corneal clarity throughout, with CCT at week 3 measuring 582.5 ± 171.5 μm.
• Control corneas remained edematous, while experimental groups showed significant improvement (p < 0.05).
• Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of functional human CEnCs in both treatment groups.

Conclusions:

• Both TE-EK and CE-CI are effective delivery methods for cell-based therapy in treating corneal endothelial dysfunction.
• These cell-based approaches hold significant promise as alternatives to traditional corneal transplantation for vision restoration.