Suprachoroidal spheroidal mesenchymal stem cell implantation in retinitis pigmentosa: clinical results of 6 months follow-up

Berna Özkan; Büşra Yılmaz Tuğan; Cansu Hemşinlioğlu; Gözde Sır Karakuş; Özlem Şahin; Ercüment Ovalı

doi:10.1186/s13287-023-03489-z

Suprachoroidal spheroidal mesenchymal stem cell implantation in retinitis pigmentosa: clinical results of 6 months follow-up

Stem Cell Res Ther. 2023 Sep 13;14(1):252. doi: 10.1186/s13287-023-03489-z.

Authors

Berna Özkan¹, Büşra Yılmaz Tuğan², Cansu Hemşinlioğlu³, Gözde Sır Karakuş³, Özlem Şahin⁴, Ercüment Ovalı³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, Istanbul, Turkey. drbernaozkan@gmail.com.
² Department of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
³ Acıbadem Labcell Cellular Therapy Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Abstract

Purpose: This prospective clinical case series aimed to evaluate the effect of suprachoroidal implantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the form of spheroids as a stem cell therapy for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients with relatively good visual acuity.

Methods: Fifteen eyes of 15 patients with RP who received suprachoroidal implantation of MSCs in the form of spheroids were included. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), 10-2 and 30-2 visual field examination and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) recordings were recorded at baseline, postoperative 1st, 3rd and 6th months during follow-up.

Results: Baseline median BCVA of RP patients was 1.30 (1.00-2.00) logMAR. BCVA has improved to 1.00 (0.50-1.30), 0.80 (0.40-1.30) and 0.80 (0.40-1.30) at the postoperative 1st, 3rd and 6th months, respectively. The improvements from baseline to the 3rd and 6th months were statistically significant (p = 0.03 and p < 0.001, respectively). In the 30-2 VF test, median MD was significantly improved at the 6th month compared to baseline (p = 0.030). In the 10-2 VF test, the median MD value was significantly different at the 6th month compared to the baseline (p = 0.043). The PSD value of the 10-2 VF test was significantly different at the 6th month compared to the 3rd month (p = 0.043). The amplitudes of P1 waves in < 2°, 5°-10° and 10°-15° rings improved significantly at the postoperative 6th month (p = 0.014, p = 0.018 and p = 0.017, respectively). There was also a statistically significant improvement in implicit times of P1 waves in 10°-15° ring at the postoperative 6th month (p = 0.004).

Conclusion: Suprachoroidal implantation of MSCs in the form of spheroids as a stem cell therapy for RP patients with relatively good visual acuity has an improving effect on BCVA, VF and mfERG recordings during the 6-month follow-up period. Spheroidal MSCs with enhanced effects may be more successful in preventing apoptosis and improving retinal tissue healing in RP patients.

Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells; Retinitis pigmentosa; Spheroids; Suprachoroidal implantation.

MeSH terms

Embryo Implantation
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Mesenchymal Stem Cells*
Prospective Studies
Retinitis Pigmentosa* / therapy