Autologous transplantation of conjunctival epithelial cellscultured on amniotic membrane in a rabbit model

[摘要] Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of autologous transplantationin a rabbit model of conjunctival epithelial cells cultured on amnioticmembrane for ocular surface reconstruction.Methods: Limbal stem cell deficiency was induced in the right eyesof 30 rabbits. This was done by performing a lamellar keratectomy of theentire cornea and a complete removal of the limbus and conjunctiva,extending 5 mm outside the limbus. Autologous conjunctival specimenswere obtained from the left eyes of ten of those rabbits and culturedfor four weeks on denuded amniotic membrane. Cultured epithelium wasexamined by transmission electron microscopy. Four weeks after lamellarkeratectomy, conjunctivalized corneal surfaces were excised andautologous cultured conjunctival epithelial sheets transplanted (Conj-AMgroup, n=10). The controls were rabbits that underwent corneal surfaceremoval but not transplantation (No Transplantation group, n=10) andthose that underwent corneal surface removal but received only amnioticmembrane (AM Alone group, n=10). A neovascularization and cornealopacity scoring system was used to evaluate each eye in the two monthsafter surgery.Results: Cultured conjunctival epithelium formed three to fourlayers on denuded amniotic membrane. Averaged scores of cornealneovascularization and corneal opacity two months after transplantationwere significantly low in the Conj-AM group as compared with those inthe AM and no transplantation groups.Conclusions: Transplantation of autologous conjunctival epithelialcells cultured on amniotic membrane should prove an effective strategyfor treating total limbal stem cell deficiency.

[学科分类] 生物化学/生物物理