Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2023, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (10): 2301-2306.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.369121

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Neuroprotective effect of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles on optic nerve injury in chronic ocular hypertension

Fei Yu1, 2, #, Yao Wang3, #, Chang-Quan Huang1, 2, Si-Jie Lin4, Ru-Xin Gao1, 2, Ren-Yi Wu1, 2, 5, *   

  1. 1Department of Glaucoma, Eye Institute and Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China; 2Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Corneal & Ocular Surface Diseases, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China; 3Shaanxi Provincial Key Lab of Ophthalmology, Shaanxi Clinical Study Center for Ocular Disease, Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China; 4Eye Institute of Xiamen University, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China; 5Department of Glaucoma, Shanghai Peace Eye Hospital, Shanghai, China
  • Online:2023-10-15 Published:2023-03-29
  • Contact: Ren-Yi Wu, MD, PhD, wubasel@hotmail.com.
  • Supported by:
    The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81570844; the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, No. 2011D001; Medical Innovation Program of Fujian Province, No. 2011-CXB-47; Huaxia Translational Medicine Youth Foundation, No. 2017-A-00301; and Xiamen Science and Technology Program Guiding Project, No. 3502Z20189033 (all to RYW).

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Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells have neuroprotective effects that limit damage to the retina and photoreceptors, and which may be mediated by extracellular vesicles (or exosomes) released by mesenchymal stem cells. To investigate the neuroprotective effect of extracellular vesicles derived from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on glaucoma, we established rat models of chronic ocular hypertension by injecting conjunctival fibroblasts into the anterior chamber to mimic optic nerve injury caused by glaucoma. One week after injury, extracellular vesicles derived from umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells were injected into the vitreous cavity. We found that extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells substantially reduced retinal damage, increased the number of retinal ganglion cells, and inhibited the activation of caspase-3. These findings suggest that mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles can help alleviate optic nerve injury caused by chronic ocular hypertension, and this effect is achieved by inhibiting cell apoptosis.

Key words: animal model, apoptosis, chronic glaucoma, chronic ocular hypertension, extracellular vesicles, mesenchymal stem cells, neuroprotection, rat, retinal ganglion cells, umbilical cord