Chao Dai1, Jing Xie2, Jiaman Dai2, Daqing Li3, Peng T Khaw4, Zhengqin Yin2, Shujia Huo5, Andrew Collins3, Geoffrey Raisman3, Ying Li6. 1. Southwest Hospital, Southwest Eye Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China; Spinal Repair Unit, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Qingdao Xin Shi Jie Eye Hospital, Qingdao 266000, People's Republic of China. 2. Southwest Hospital, Southwest Eye Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China. 3. Spinal Repair Unit, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK. 4. The National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 2PD, UK. 5. Southwest Hospital, Southwest Eye Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China; Spinal Repair Unit, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK. 6. Spinal Repair Unit, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK. Electronic address: ying.li@ucl.ac.uk.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine whether transplantation of olfactory mucosal cells (OMCs) is able to rescue the loss of optic nerve axons after the intraocular pressure (IOP) is elevated in rats. METHODS: The IOP was raised by injection of magnetic microspheres into the anterior chamber of the eye. OMCs cultured from the adult olfactory mucosa were transplanted into the region of the optic disc. RESULTS: We demonstrated that although the raised IOP returned to its normal level at six weeks, there was an irreversible 58% loss of optic nerve axons in the control group. However, the loss of the axons was reduced to 23% in the group with the transplanted OMCs. The Pattern Electroretinograms (pERG) showed that the decrement of the voltage amplitudes in association with the raised IOP was significantly alleviated in the group with transplantation of OMC. CONCLUSIONS: Transplantation of OMCs is able to rescue loss of optic nerve axons induced by raised IOP in the rats. The pERG recording suggested that the functional activities of the axons are also protected. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: The results demonstrated the ability of the transplanted OMCs to protect against the loss of the optic nerve axons and the loss of function caused by raised IOPs. The findings provide a basis for future human clinical trials by autografting OMCs from autologous nasal epithelial biopsies to treat or delay glaucoma diseases.
PURPOSE: To determine whether transplantation of olfactory mucosal cells (OMCs) is able to rescue the loss of optic nerve axons after the intraocular pressure (IOP) is elevated in rats. METHODS: The IOP was raised by injection of magnetic microspheres into the anterior chamber of the eye. OMCs cultured from the adult olfactory mucosa were transplanted into the region of the optic disc. RESULTS: We demonstrated that although the raised IOP returned to its normal level at six weeks, there was an irreversible 58% loss of optic nerve axons in the control group. However, the loss of the axons was reduced to 23% in the group with the transplanted OMCs. The Pattern Electroretinograms (pERG) showed that the decrement of the voltage amplitudes in association with the raised IOP was significantly alleviated in the group with transplantation of OMC. CONCLUSIONS: Transplantation of OMCs is able to rescue loss of optic nerve axons induced by raised IOP in the rats. The pERG recording suggested that the functional activities of the axons are also protected. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: The results demonstrated the ability of the transplanted OMCs to protect against the loss of the optic nerve axons and the loss of function caused by raised IOPs. The findings provide a basis for future human clinical trials by autografting OMCs from autologous nasal epithelial biopsies to treat or delay glaucoma diseases.