Irradiated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-coated high oxygen-permeable hydrogel lenses inhibit corneal inflammation and neovascularization after corneal alkali burns

Abstract Corneal alkali burns can cause persistent inflammation and corneal neovascularization. In this study, we divided corneal alkali burned rabbits into the untreated group, the blank lens group, the radiation-treated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSC) lens group, and the UCMSC I.V. g...

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Main Authors: Siqi Song, Yaqi Cheng, Weihua Li, Huan Yu, Zhiquan Li, Jianbing Li, Meng Li, Qunai Huang, Yingjie Liu, Shiqi Ling
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95007-9
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author Siqi Song
Yaqi Cheng
Weihua Li
Huan Yu
Zhiquan Li
Jianbing Li
Meng Li
Qunai Huang
Yingjie Liu
Shiqi Ling
author_facet Siqi Song
Yaqi Cheng
Weihua Li
Huan Yu
Zhiquan Li
Jianbing Li
Meng Li
Qunai Huang
Yingjie Liu
Shiqi Ling
author_sort Siqi Song
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Corneal alkali burns can cause persistent inflammation and corneal neovascularization. In this study, we divided corneal alkali burned rabbits into the untreated group, the blank lens group, the radiation-treated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSC) lens group, and the UCMSC I.V. group, and then measured corneal inflammation, neovascularization and corneal injury repair via slit lamp microscopy, captured anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), and performed hematoxylin-eosin staining. Compared with those in the other experimental groups, radiation-treated UCMSC lenses significantly decreased inflammatory index (IF) scores, areas of corneal blood vessels and corneal epithelial injury. The expression of interleukin (IL)-17 in corneas treated with radiation-treated UCMSC lenses was lower than that in corneas treated with blank lenses, and radiation-treated UCMSC lenses exhibited greater expression of IL-4 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), while the expression of cluster of differentiation-3G (CD3G), a linker for the activation of T cells (LAT), IL-6, IL-1B, CC chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) and IL-23 exhibited the opposite effects (all P < 0.05). Our findings demonstrated that irradiated UCMSC-coated high oxygen-permeable hydrogel lenses on the ocular surface inhibited corneal angiogenesis and inflammation after corneal alkaline burns. The downregulation of Th17 cell differentiation might be responsible for these effects.
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spelling doaj-art-d88e99b1effb49d8bb072f4c1a1ca4012025-08-20T03:40:49ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-95007-9Irradiated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-coated high oxygen-permeable hydrogel lenses inhibit corneal inflammation and neovascularization after corneal alkali burnsSiqi Song0Yaqi Cheng1Weihua Li2Huan Yu3Zhiquan Li4Jianbing Li5Meng Li6Qunai Huang7Yingjie Liu8Shiqi Ling9Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Sun Yat-sen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Sun Yat-sen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityAbstract Corneal alkali burns can cause persistent inflammation and corneal neovascularization. In this study, we divided corneal alkali burned rabbits into the untreated group, the blank lens group, the radiation-treated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSC) lens group, and the UCMSC I.V. group, and then measured corneal inflammation, neovascularization and corneal injury repair via slit lamp microscopy, captured anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), and performed hematoxylin-eosin staining. Compared with those in the other experimental groups, radiation-treated UCMSC lenses significantly decreased inflammatory index (IF) scores, areas of corneal blood vessels and corneal epithelial injury. The expression of interleukin (IL)-17 in corneas treated with radiation-treated UCMSC lenses was lower than that in corneas treated with blank lenses, and radiation-treated UCMSC lenses exhibited greater expression of IL-4 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), while the expression of cluster of differentiation-3G (CD3G), a linker for the activation of T cells (LAT), IL-6, IL-1B, CC chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) and IL-23 exhibited the opposite effects (all P < 0.05). Our findings demonstrated that irradiated UCMSC-coated high oxygen-permeable hydrogel lenses on the ocular surface inhibited corneal angiogenesis and inflammation after corneal alkaline burns. The downregulation of Th17 cell differentiation might be responsible for these effects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95007-9Radiation-treated umbilical cord stem cellsAlkali corneal burnsInflammationAngiogenesisTh17 cell differentiation
spellingShingle Siqi Song
Yaqi Cheng
Weihua Li
Huan Yu
Zhiquan Li
Jianbing Li
Meng Li
Qunai Huang
Yingjie Liu
Shiqi Ling
Irradiated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-coated high oxygen-permeable hydrogel lenses inhibit corneal inflammation and neovascularization after corneal alkali burns
Scientific Reports
Radiation-treated umbilical cord stem cells
Alkali corneal burns
Inflammation
Angiogenesis
Th17 cell differentiation
title Irradiated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-coated high oxygen-permeable hydrogel lenses inhibit corneal inflammation and neovascularization after corneal alkali burns
title_full Irradiated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-coated high oxygen-permeable hydrogel lenses inhibit corneal inflammation and neovascularization after corneal alkali burns
title_fullStr Irradiated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-coated high oxygen-permeable hydrogel lenses inhibit corneal inflammation and neovascularization after corneal alkali burns
title_full_unstemmed Irradiated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-coated high oxygen-permeable hydrogel lenses inhibit corneal inflammation and neovascularization after corneal alkali burns
title_short Irradiated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-coated high oxygen-permeable hydrogel lenses inhibit corneal inflammation and neovascularization after corneal alkali burns
title_sort irradiated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell coated high oxygen permeable hydrogel lenses inhibit corneal inflammation and neovascularization after corneal alkali burns
topic Radiation-treated umbilical cord stem cells
Alkali corneal burns
Inflammation
Angiogenesis
Th17 cell differentiation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95007-9
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