Evaluation of the Therapeutic Efficacy of Stromal Cells Isolated from Human Corneal Lenticules for Corneal Repair after Injury in an In Vivo Model

Corneal fibroblasts and keratocytes differentiated from fibroblasts were used for cell therapy. Mechanical injury to the mouse cornea was modeled in the form of a tunnel defect into the depth of the cornea in the central optical zone. Corneal thickness and transparency were assessed by optical computed tomography at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after the injury. The therapeutic effectiveness of fibroblasts was delayed and was associated with paracrine influences of keratocytes. The conditioned medium of keratocytes reduced adhesion ability of fibroblasts and their proliferative and migratory activities. In case of keratocyte therapy, corneal thickness and transparency began to recover after 2 weeks and reached the level of a healthy cornea by week 8. The results of our study demonstrate the efficacy of correction of corneal opacification by stromal cells.