Reconstruction Of Corneal Surface By Autologous Transplantation Of Rabbit Adipose Tissue-derived Stem Cells On Amniotic Membrane

Purpose:To investigate the possibility of using autologous cultivated adipose tissue-derived stem cells(ADSCs) in ocular surface reconstruction and examine whether grafted ADSCs could differentiate into corneal epithelial cells.Methods:We isolated ADSCs from adipose tissue,then labeled ADSCs with CM-Dil.After growth and expansion on amniotic membrane,cells were transplanted into rabbit corneas 10 days after chemical burns. Reconstruction of the damaged cornea were measured once a week by slit lamp and confocal microscopy(CM),respectively.One month after surgeries,Corneas were then cut out,fixed,and imbedded for immunofluorescent study of the expression of keratin 3/12 as corneal epithelial cell markers.Results:The ADSCs were isolated successfully.CM-Dil-labeled adipose derived stromal cells were subsistent on the surface of cornea.Corneas that were grafted with the cultivated ADSCs on an AM carrier were clear and were epithelialized 2 weeks after surgery.The data and confocal microscopy showed that transplantation of ADSCs successfully reconstructed damaged rabbit corneal surface,but k3/12 was not detected in the rabbit eyes.Conclusions:ADSCs can be used for reconstruction of damaged corneas, presenting a new source for autotransplantation in the treatment of corneal disorders.