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Increased Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutic Potential and Progenitor Marker Expression of Corneal Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cultured in an Optimized Propagation Medium

Hopkinson, Andrew; Notara, Maria; Cursiefen, Claus; Sidney, Laura E.

Increased Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutic Potential and Progenitor Marker Expression of Corneal Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cultured in an Optimized Propagation Medium Thumbnail


Authors

Andrew Hopkinson

Maria Notara

Claus Cursiefen

LAURA SIDNEY LAURA.SIDNEY@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Senior Research Fellow



Abstract

There is a huge unmet need for new treatment modalities for ocular surface inflammatory disorders (OSIDs) such as dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction. Mesenchymal stem cell therapies may hold the answer due to their potent immunomodulatory properties, low immunogenicity, and ability to modulate both the innate and adaptive immune response. MSC-like cells that can be isolated from the corneal stroma (C-MSCs) offer a potential new treatment strategy; however, an optimized culture medium needs to be developed to produce the ideal phenotype for use in a cell therapy to treat OSIDs. The effects of in vitro expansion of human C-MSC in a medium of M199 containing fetal bovine serum (FBS) was compared to a stem cell medium (SCM) containing knockout serum replacement (KSR) with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and human leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), investigating viability, protein, and gene expression. Isolating populations expressing CD34 or using siRNA knockdown of CD34 were investigated. Finally, the potential of C-MSC as a cell therapy was assessed using co-culture with an in vitro corneal epithelial cell injury model and the angiogenic effects of C-MSC conditioned medium were evaluated with blood and lymph endothelial cells. Both media supported proliferation of C-MSC, with SCM increasing expression of CD34, ABCG2, PAX6, NANOG, REX1, SOX2, and THY1, supported by increased associated protein expression. Isolating cell populations expressing CD34 protein made little difference to gene expression, however, knockdown of the CD34 gene led to decreased expression of progenitor genes. C-MSC increased viability of injured corneal epithelial cells whilst decreasing levels of cytotoxicity and interleukins-6 and -8. No pro-angiogenic effect of C-MSC was seen. Culture medium can significantly influence C-MSC phenotype and culture in SCM produced a cell phenotype more suitable for further consideration as an anti-inflammatory cell therapy. C-MSC show considerable potential for development as therapies for OSIDs, acting through anti-inflammatory action.

Citation

Hopkinson, A., Notara, M., Cursiefen, C., & Sidney, L. E. (2024). Increased Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutic Potential and Progenitor Marker Expression of Corneal Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cultured in an Optimized Propagation Medium. Cell Transplantation, 33, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1177/09636897241241992

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 5, 2024
Online Publication Date Apr 11, 2024
Publication Date Apr 11, 2024
Deposit Date Apr 15, 2024
Publicly Available Date Apr 16, 2024
Journal Cell Transplantation
Print ISSN 0963-6897
Electronic ISSN 1555-3892
Publisher Cognizant Communication Corporation
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 33
Pages 1-17
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/09636897241241992
Keywords Cornea, Inflammation, CD34, Cell therapy, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Dry Eye, Cells, Cultured, Endothelial Cells, Humans, Antigens, CD34, Coculture Techniques, Cell Differentiation, Cell Proliferation, Phenotype
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/33567357
Publisher URL https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09636897241241992
PMID 38602231

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