Open Access
Research (Published online: 29-02-2024)
29. Early detection of optic nerve head changes using optical coherence tomography after using mesenchymal stromal cells as intravitreal therapy in rabbit models of ocular hypertension
Karine dos Santos Evangelho, Carlos Cifuentes-González, William Rojas-Carabali, Clemencia De Vivero-Arciniegas, Mariana Cañas-Arboleda, Gustavo Salguero, Carolina Ramírez-Santana, and Alejandra de-la-Torre
Veterinary World, 17(2): 500-508

Karine dos Santos Evangelho: Doctoral Program in Biomedical and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
Carlos Cifuentes-González: Neuroscience (NEUROS) Research Group, Neurovitae Research Center, Institute of Translational Medicine (IMT), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
William Rojas-Carabali: Neuroscience (NEUROS) Research Group, Neurovitae Research Center, Institute of Translational Medicine (IMT), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
Clemencia De Vivero-Arciniegas: Higher School of Ophthalmology- -Instituto Barraquer de América, Bogotá, Colombia.
Mariana Cañas-Arboleda: Advanced Therapies Unit, Instituto Distrital de Ciencia Biotecnología e Innovación en Salud-IDCBIS, Bogotá, Colombia.
Gustavo Salguero: Advanced Therapies Unit, Instituto Distrital de Ciencia Biotecnología e Innovación en Salud-IDCBIS, Bogotá, Colombia.
Carolina Ramírez-Santana: Center for Autoimmune Diseases Research (CREA), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
Alejandra de-la-Torre: Neuroscience (NEUROS) Research Group, Neurovitae Research Center, Institute of Translational Medicine (IMT), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.500-508

Article history: Received: 18-09-2023, Accepted: 30-01-2024, Published online: 29-02-2024

Corresponding author: Alejandra de-la-Torre

E-mail: alejadelatorre@yahoo.com

Citation: Evangelho KS, Cifuentes-González C, Rojas-Carabali W, Vivero-Arciniegas CD, Cañas-Arboleda M, Salguero G, Ramírez-Santana C, and de-la-Torre A (2024) Early detection of optic nerve head changes using optical coherence tomography after using mesenchymal stromal cells as intravitreal therapy in rabbit models of ocular hypertension, Veterinary World, 17(2): 500–508.
Abstract

Background and Aim: Stem cell therapy is considered a promising treatment for several neurodegenerative diseases. However, there are very few studies on the use of this therapy in glaucoma models. By detecting the changes produced by glaucoma early, cell therapy could help prevent the events that lead to blindness. In this study, early changes in the optic nerve head (ONH) as detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT) after the application of human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hWJ-MSCs) in an experimental model of ocular hypertension (OH) were evaluated.

Materials and Methods: Fifteen New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into the following three groups: G1: OH, G2: hWJ-MSCs, and G3: OH + hWJ-MSCs. An OH model was constructed, and the intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured regularly. At week 7, 105/100 μL hWJ-MSCs were intravitreally injected. Retinography and OCT were used to evaluate structural changes in ONH.

Results: IOP increased significantly in G1 and G3 from week 3 onward. Retinography revealed more significant optic nerve changes, that is, papillary asymmetry suggestive of optic nerve excavation, vascular alterations, and irregular hypopigmentation peripheral to the optic disk margin, in G1 compared with G3. OH locates the hWJ-MSCs solution in the vitreous in front of the optic nerve. OCT revealed retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) reduction in all groups, reduced optic cup volume in G2 and G3 between weeks 1 and 9, and significant ganglion cell layer thickness reduction in G1 and a slight increase in G3.

Conclusion: Intravitreal hWJ-MSCs injection produced changes in optic cup volume, which were detected early on by OCT; however, RNFL could not be restored in this OH model.

Keywords: glaucoma, mesenchymal stromal cell, ocular hypertension, optic nerve head, optical coherence tomography, rabbit.

Highlights

The document is a research article about the early detection of optic nerve head changes using optical coherence tomography after using mesenchymal stromal cells as intravitreal therapy in rabbit models of ocular hypertension.

The study evaluated the early changes in the optic nerve head (ONH) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) after the application of human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hWJ-MSCs) in an experimental model of ocular hypertension (OH).

Intravitreal hWJ-MSCs injection produced changes in optic cup volume, which were detected early on by OCT. However, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness could not be restored in this OH model.

Significant optic nerve changes, such as papillary asymmetry, vascular alterations, and irregular hypopigmentation peripheral to the optic disk margin, were observed in the OH group compared to the OH + hWJ-MSCs group.

Intravitreal hWJ-MSCs transplantation can lead to early detection of changes in the ONH and may have potential neuroprotective effects in glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the optic nerve and can lead to cognitive dysfunctions and higher-order visual function impairment.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a practical tool for evaluating retinal and optic nerve morphology in glaucoma patients and animal models.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have therapeutic potential in the treatment of glaucoma due to their immunomodulatory properties and secretion of neuroprotective factors.

Intraocular pressure reduction can lead to reversible structural and functional changes in glaucoma patients, including the reversal of optic disc cupping.

Vascular aspects play a role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, and the vascular anatomy of the optic nerve head is important in understanding the disease.