Safety and outcomes of subconjunctival allogenic mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in canine experimental corneal defects

Corneal injury is very common clinical condition in veterinary medicine and delayed or incomplete corneal healing has the potential of vision loss due to the loss of corneal transparency. For the reconstruction of corneal epithelium, tissue graft and cell transplantation have been prosperously investigated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical value and short-term safety of application of cultured allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of canine experimental corneal defect. Corneal defects were surgically generated in the central corneas of healthy beagle dogs and cultured canine allogenic MSCs were transplanted via subconjunctival injection. Although mean healing time, the rate of epithelial regeneration, and the degree of corneal transparency were not significantly improved after MSC transplantation, significant immune reaction or incompatibility reaction was not detected except transient local irritation. These results propose the possibility of MSC application as a new regenerative medicine in canine ocular disorders.