Therapeutic Effects of Three Human-derived Materials in a Mouse Corneal Alkali Burn Model.

PURPOSE: To compare the therapeutic effects of human derivatives in a mouse alkali burn model.

METHODS: The right eyes of mice were injured using NaOH. After alkali injury, one of the following agents was topically administered for 7 days: human amniotic membrane (hAM) suspension, human umbilical cord serum (hUCS), and human peripheral blood serum (hPBS), or saline. The epithelial defect areas on days 1, 2, and 3, degrees of opacity on days 2, 3, and 7, and corneal neovascularization (NV) areas on day 7 were evaluated. Histologic examination and mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-8, and MMP-9 were also evaluated on day 7.

RESULTS: The epithelial defect areas in the hUCS group were smaller than those in the control and hPBS groups on day 3 (p < 0.05, respectively). The epithelial defect areas in the hAM suspension group showed smaller than those in the control and hPBS groups on days 1 and 2 (p < 0.05, respectively). The degrees of opacity were lower in all treatment groups than that of the saline control group on day 7 (p < 0.05, respectively). Corneal NV areas were not different among groups on day 7 (p=0.20). The expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MMP-8, and MMP-9 mRNA and the infiltration of the inflammatory cells in all treatment groups were lesser than those in the control group on day 7 (p<0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSION: All treatments reduced inflammatory reactions and corneal opacity development. Corneal reepithelialization was faster in the hUCS group.