Effects of Bone Marrow and Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on microRNA Expressions in Acute Alkaline Corneal...

The aim of this study was to investigate the microRNA (miRNA) expressions of the corneal tissue after an alkaline burn and to compare the efficiency of adipose- and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on expressions. Thirty-two rats were divided into 4 groups. No intervention was made in the control group. A chemical burn was created by applying 4 μL NaOH soaked in 6 mm filter paper to the right eye of each animal in the other groups. Whereas only subconjunctival 0.1 mL phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was injected to in the group 1, 2 × 10⁶ adipose- or bone marrow-derived MSC in 0.1 mL PBS was injected subconjunctivally to the animals in the remaining groups (groups 2 and 3, respectively). Tissue samples were collected for miRNA analysis on the third day after the burn. When group 1 was compared with the control group, the expression of 3 of 93 miRNAs increased significantly, whereas the expression of 50 miRNAs decreased significantly. Significant changes in miRNA expressions were observed when group 1 was compared with groups 2 and 3. Although a significant change was observed in the expression of 6 miRNAs in the adipose-derived MSC group, it was found that the expression of 65 miRNAs significantly changed in the bone marrow-derived MSC group. This study shows that there are significant changes in some miRNA expressions after corneal alkaline burn and these changes can be reversed with the subconjunctival injection of MSCs.