Reversed Corneal Fibroblasts Therapy Restores Transparency of Mouse Cornea after Injury

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Corneal scarring is a significant cause of vision loss.
• Current cell-based therapies for corneal scarring face limitations due to the scarcity and in vitro expansion difficulties of corneal stromal stem cells (CSSC) and keratocytes.
• Alternative cell sources are needed for effective corneal regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic potential of corneal fibroblasts reversed into keratocytes (rCF) for treating mechanical corneal injury.
• To evaluate the efficacy of rCF in restoring corneal structure and transparency in a mouse model.

Main Methods:

• In vivo assessment using slit lamp examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Ex vivo analysis including transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunofluorescence staining.
• Intrastromal injection of rCF into mechanically injured mouse corneas.

Main Results:

• rCF injection led to recovery of corneal thickness and transparency.
• Significant reduction in type III collagen and absence of myofibroblasts were observed.
• TEM revealed improved collagen fiber organization, with increased fibril diameter and spacing, and maintained short-range order.
• Cell therapy with rCF promoted transparent corneal stroma recovery.

Conclusions:

• Corneal fibroblasts reversed into keratocytes (rCF) demonstrate significant therapeutic effects in a mouse model of corneal injury.
• rCF therapy promotes corneal regeneration by restoring stromal organization and transparency.
• This approach offers a promising alternative for treating corneal scarring and vision impairment.