Healing the cornea: the therapeutic potential of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and their Extracellular Vesicles

What are Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and what role do they play in ophthalmic treatments?

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown promising potential in treating corneal disorders, which affect millions of people and can lead to impaired vision or blindness. Recent studies show that MSCs can reduce inflammation, regulate the immune system, and promote tissue repair.

More interestingly, scientists have discovered that much of the benefit provided by MSCs comes from the tiny particles they release, known as extracellular vesicles (EVs). These MSC-EVs could offer a safer way to harness the healing power of MSCs without some of the risks associated with cell-based therapies.

The study

In this article, our team at the University of Galway reviewed and analysed current research on the use of MSCs and MSC-EVs in treating corneal diseases. This is in line with one key focus of the Restore Vision project – improving the efficacy of MSC-EV therapies to find new treatments for rare eye diseases.

The article not only explores the inherent therapeutic potential of MSCs and MSC-EVs but also innovative strategies that could enhance their effectiveness. These include embedding these cells in materials that help retain them in the eye longer, combining them with drugs for enhanced effects, and modifying them to target specific cells. Lastly, it also explores the ongoing development of scalable production methods, which are crucial for translating these promising therapies from the lab into everyday clinical practice.

What were the main findings?

This research demonstrates that MSCs hold great promise in treating corneal disorders, with MSC-EVs offering a novel way to deliver MSC properties while avoiding the limitations of cell-based therapies. However, challenges remain in optimising delivery methods and scaling production for clinical use. Overcoming these hurdles will be essential for translating MSC-EVs into effective treatments for patients—an area of continued focus for our research in Restore Vision.

Read the full article

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350946224000909

Interested in Restore vision?

Restore vision, is a consumer-oriented non-profit organisation, founded to make the science behind food and health more accessible and easier to understand among the public.