Background: Intravitreal injection of human mesenchymal stem cells has been shown to be effective in slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy in an animal model of chemically induced diabetes mellitus. We studied changes in growth factor levels released from human mesenchymal stem cells in the vitreous cavity as well as changes in growth factor levels in host retinal neurons following intravitreal injection.
Methods: Twenty-two Lewis rats were treated with an intravitreal human mesenchymal stem cell microinjection. Determination of neurotrophic factors released by human mesenchymal stem cells in the vitreous was carried out using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Detectable levels of neurotrophic factors were identified postoperatively in the vitreous of all rats.
Conclusion: Increased intravitreal and retinal concentrations of neuroprotective growth factors in rats confirm the neuroprotective activity of human mesenchymal stem cells in diabetic retinopathy.
Keywords: apoptosis mechanism; chemically induced diabetes mellitus; diabetic retinopathy; neuroprotection; stem cells.