Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HUMSC) transplantation alone or assisted with ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) on optic neuropathy in a novel and practical model of experimental glaucoma in rabbits.
Methods: Eight New Zealand white healthy rabbits were used as the control group (group A). Twenty-four experimental glaucomatous rabbits were established as described previously and randomly divided into three groups: (1) received no treatment (group B); (2) received intravitreal transplantation of HUMSCs (group C); and (3) received UTMD-assisted intravitreal transplantation of HUMSCs (group D). After 4 weeks of treatment, the distribution of HUMSCs, retinal thickness, layer structure, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), and their axons were examined.
Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, HUMSCs were successfully scattered under the retina. HUMSC transplantation significantly increased the regeneration of RGCs and their axons, and restored the retinal structure in glaucomatous rabbits. Moreover, the application of UTMD enhances HUMSC distribution and achieved more significant therapeutic effect.
Conclusions: Intravitreal transplantation of HUMSCs effectively repaired glaucomatous optic nerve injury, and UTMD enhanced the successful delivery of HUMSCs into injured retina, promoting its therapeutic effects remarkably.
Translational relevance: This study demonstrated that HUMSC transplantation repaired the glaucoma-caused nerve injury significantly and the combination of UTMD can augment the therapeutic effect further, which has important clinical guiding significance for the development of therapeutic strategies of glaucoma.