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Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) Therapy in Rescuing Photoreceptors and Establishing a Sodium Iodate-Induced Retinal Degeneration Rat Model

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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Different methods have been used to inject stem cells into the eye for research. We previously explored the intravitreal route. Here, we investigate the efficacy of intravenous and subretinal-transplanted human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in rescuing the photoreceptors of a sodium iodate-induced retinal degeneration model.

Methods:

Three groups of Sprague Dawley rats were used: intervention, vehicle group and negative control groups (n = 6 in each). Intravenous injection of 60 mg/kg sodium iodate (day 0) induced retinal degeneration. On day 4 post-injection of sodium iodate, the rats in the intervention group received intravenous DPSC and subretinal DPSC in the right eye; rats in the vehicle group received subretinal Hank’s balance salt solution and intravenous normal saline; while negative control group received nothing. Electroretinogram (ERG) was performed to assess the retinal function at day 0 (baseline), day 4, day 11, day 18, day 26, and day 32. By the end of the study at day 32, the rats were euthanized, and both their enucleated eyes were sent for histology.

Results:

No significant difference in maximal ERG a-wave (p = 0.107) and b-wave, (p = 0.153) amplitude was seen amongst the experimental groups. However, photopic 30 Hz flicker amplitude of the study eye showed significant differences in the 3 groups (p = 0.032). Within the intervention group, there was an improvement in 30 Hz flicker ERG response of all 6 treated right eyes, which was injected with subretinal DPSC; while the 30 Hz flicker ERG of the non-treated left eyes remained flat. Histology showed improved outer nuclear layer thickness in intervention group; however, findings were not significant compared to the negative and vehicle groups.

Conclusion:

Combination of subretinal and intravenous injection of DPSCs may have potential to rescue cone function from a NaIO3-induced retinal injury model.

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge the funding provided by UKM through the Fundamental Grant awarded to Drs Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion and Lam Chen Shen (Project Code FF 2017-096) and the Publication Grant awarded to Dr Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion (Project Code GP-K009894). The authors also extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through the project number 375213500. Last but not least, the authors acknowledge CryoCord Sdn Bhd for providing the DPSC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, UKM Medical Centre, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Lam Chenshen, Mohd Hairul Nizam Harun & Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion

  2. Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Hiba Amer Alsaeedi & Suresh Kumar Subbiah

  3. Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Avin Ee-Hwan Koh & Pooi Ling Mok

  4. Tissue Engineering Centre, UKM Medical Centre, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Angela Ng Min Hwei

  5. Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, P.O. Box 2014, Aljouf Province, Saudi Arabia

    Pooi Ling Mok

  6. Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Pooi Ling Mok & Suresh Kumar Subbiah

  7. Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital, Melbourne, 3002, Australia

    Chi D Luu

  8. Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia

    Chi D Luu

  9. Brighton Healthcare Suite G-2, Ground Floor, Bio X Centre, Persiaran Cyberpoint Selatan, Cyber 8, 63000, Cyberjaya, Malaysia

    Then Kong Yong

  10. Department of Biotechnology, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    Suresh Kumar Subbiah

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  1. Lam Chenshen
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Correspondence to Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion.

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The ethics approval was obtained from UKM Animal Ethical Committee (Reference code: UKM FPR.4/244/FF-2017-096).

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Lam, C., Alsaeedi, H.A., Koh, A.EH. et al. Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) Therapy in Rescuing Photoreceptors and Establishing a Sodium Iodate-Induced Retinal Degeneration Rat Model. Tissue Eng Regen Med 18, 143–154 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-020-00312-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-020-00312-1

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