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Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Isolation, Cryopreservation and Culture of Human Amnion Epithelial Cells for Clinical Applications
Published on: December 21, 2014
Development of human amniotic epithelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles as cell-free therapy for dry eye disease
Soojin Yi1, Jeongho Kim2, Mi Ju Kim3
1Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Jung-gu, Daegu, Republic of Korea; Bio-Medical Institute, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Jung-gu, Daegu, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Science, The Graduate School, Kyungpook National University, Jung-gu, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human amniotic epithelial cells (hAEC-EVs) for Dry Eye Disease (DED) treatment.
Methods:
Highly purified EVs were isolated from the culture supernatants of hAECs, which obtained from term placenta and characterized. Proteomic contents were analyzed for assessing its biological function related to the therapeutic potentials for DED. Subsequently, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of hAEC-EVs on human corneal epithelial cells exposed to hyperosmotic stress and in an experimental DED mouse model induced by desiccation stress.
Results:
Proteomic analysis of hAEC-EVs revealed proteins linked to cell proliferation and anti-inflammatory responses. We demonstrated efficient uptake of hAEC-EVs by ocular surface cells. Under DED conditions, EV treatment increased corneal epithelial cell proliferation and migration, and concurrently reducing inflammatory cytokines. In the DED mouse model, hAEC-EVs showed significant improvements in corneal staining score, tear secretion, corneal irregularity, and conjunctival goblet cell density. Additionally, hAEC-EVs exhibited a mitigating effect on ocular surface inflammation induced by desiccation.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that hAEC-EVs hold potential as a cell-free therapy for corneal epithelial defects and ocular surface diseases, presenting a promising treatment option for DED.
