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Bone marrow stem cells differentiated, produced keratocan in mouse study
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Stem cells derived from bone marrow and intrastromally injected into the corneas of mice can differentiate into keratocan-producing cells, according to an experimental study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati.
Winston Whei-Yang Kao, PhD, and colleagues investigated whether bone marrow stem cells could differentiate into cells that expressed keratocan, a characteristic of corneal keratocytes. The study involved Kera-/- mice.
Hongshan Liu, PhD, a research scientist in the university's ophthalmology department, presented their findings at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.
The researchers found that, after 1 week, the abnormal corneas of animals injected with the stem cells began to change shape and heal, according to a press release from the university.
"We found that bone marrow stem cells can contribute to the formation of connective tissues," Dr. Kao said in the release. "If we can change the function of non-corneal bone marrow stem cells by introducing them into human corneas, we can possibly repair the loss of visual sharpness caused by mutations."
Dr. Kao and colleagues are now planning a clinical trial, the release said.
This study was funded by grants from the National Eye Institute, Research to Prevent Blindness and the Ohio Lions Eye Research Foundation.