Ocular Benefits of adMSCs

Ocular inflammatory diseases, particularly those related to chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), can present significant treatment challenges to ophthalmologists. In response to this, researchers from Japan have explored the therapeutic potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (adMSCs) delivered via subconjunctival injection to mitigate ocular GVHD effects.

The researchers administered human adMSCs to mice with chronic ocular GVHD through subconjunctival injections, assessing clinical scores, corneal integrity, and changes in T cell populations as a result of the injections. In vitro experiments were also conducted to examine the impact of adMSC-conditioned media on wound closure and cell migration.

Following adMSC treatment, the study found significant improvements in corneal integrity, including epithelial damage, opacity, thickness, and structure. Similarly, immune profiling revealed increased regulatory T cells and reduced pro-inflammatory T cell populations in local cervical lymph nodes. It was also found that adMSC-conditioned media enhanced wound closure and cell migration in vitro, suggesting that trophic factors play a key role in the therapeutic process. Notably, the transplanted cells disappeared within a week, indicating that their effects were mediated through secreted factors rather than direct cell integration.

The study findings support the potential of adMSC therapy to be clinically applied to immune-related ocular disorders. The dual-action mechanism – combining immunomodulation and enhanced tissue repair – positions adMSCs as a promising candidate for clinical applications in regenerative medicine, suggesting it could be used as a treatment for diseases that cause tissue damage to the ocular surface, as well as inflammation.