The aim of this study was to examine whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and/or corneal limbal epithelial stem cells (LSCs) influence restoration of an antioxidant protective mechanism in the corneal epithelium and renewal of corneal optical properties changed after alkali burns. The injured rabbit corneas (with 0.25 N NaOH) were untreated or treated with nanofiber scaffolds free of stem cells, with nanofiber scaffolds seeded with bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs), with adipose tissue MSCs (Ad-MSCs), or with LSCs. On day 15 following the injury, after BM-MSCs or LSCs nanofiber treatment (less after Ad-MSCs treatment) the expression of antioxidant enzymes was restored in the regenerated corneal epithelium and the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and vascular endothelial factor (VEGF) were low. The central corneal thickness (taken as an index of corneal hydration) increased after the injury and returned to levels before the injury. In injured untreated corneas the epithelium was absent and numerous cells revealed the expressions of iNOS, MMP9, α-SMA, TGF-β1, and VEGF. In conclusion, stem cell treatment accelerated regeneration of the corneal epithelium, restored the antioxidant protective mechanism, and renewed corneal optical properties.

Department of Transplantation Immunology Institute of Experimental Medicine Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Videnska 1083 14220 Prague 4 Czech Republic

Department of Transplantation Immunology Institute of Experimental Medicine Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Videnska 1083 14220 Prague 4 Czech Republic; Faculty of Natural Science Charles University Vinicna 7 12843 Prague 2 Czech Republic

Laboratory of Eye Histochemistry and Pharmacology Institute of Experimental Medicine Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Videnska 1083 14220 Prague 4 Czech Republic

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2022 May 11;2022:9854827. doi: 10.1155/2022/9854827. PubMed

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Retraction Note: Therapeutic effect of molecular hydrogen in corneal UVB-induced oxidative stress and corneal photodamage

Molecular Hydrogen Effectively Heals Alkali-Injured Cornea via Suppression of Oxidative Stress