Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, Ophthalmology Section, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy.
Stem Cells Int. 2012;2012:946090. doi: 10.1155/2012/946090. Epub 2012 May 23.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of legal blindness in individuals over 60 years of age, characterized by the dysfunction of retinal pigmented epithelium cells, specifically in the macular area. Despite several treatment options, AMD therapy remains difficult, especially for exudative AMD. Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with great plasticity and immunomodulant properties, are a promising cell source for cellular therapy and tissue engineering. We evaluated the effects of steroid drugs, often used to treat AMD, in association with MSCs, in view of a possible application together to treat AMD. Morphology, viability, growth kinetics, and immunophenotype were evaluated on healthy donors' MSCs, treated with triamcinolone acetonide, alcohol-free triamcinolone acetonide, micronized intravitreal triamcinolone and dexamethasone at different concentrations, and in a human retinal pigment epithelial cell line supernatant (ARPE-19). The morphological analysis of MSCs in their standard medium showed a negative correlation with drug concentrations, due to the numerous crystals. Dexamethasone was the least toxic corticosteroid used in this study. ARPE-19 seemed to help cells preserve the typical MSC morphology. In conclusion, this in vitro study demonstrated that high doses of corticosteroid drugs have a negative effect on MSCs, reduced in the presence of a conditioned media.
年龄相关性黄斑变性(AMD)是 60 岁以上人群失明的主要原因,其特征是视网膜色素上皮细胞功能障碍,特别是在黄斑区域。尽管有几种治疗选择,但 AMD 的治疗仍然很困难,特别是对于渗出性 AMD。多能间充质干细胞(MSCs)具有很强的可塑性和免疫调节特性,是细胞治疗和组织工程的有前途的细胞来源。我们评估了类固醇药物(常用于治疗 AMD)与 MSCs 联合应用于 AMD 治疗的可能性。我们评估了健康供体的 MSCs 的形态、活力、生长动力学和免疫表型,这些 MSCs 用曲安奈德、无酒精曲安奈德、玻璃体腔内微粉化曲安奈德和地塞米松以不同浓度处理,并在人视网膜色素上皮细胞系上清液(ARPE-19)中处理。在标准培养基中观察到 MSCs 的形态分析与药物浓度呈负相关,这是由于存在许多晶体。在本研究中使用的皮质类固醇中,地塞米松的毒性最小。ARPE-19 似乎有助于细胞保持典型的 MSC 形态。总之,这项体外研究表明,高剂量的皮质类固醇药物对 MSCs 有负面影响,而在存在条件培养基的情况下则会减少。