# The efficacy of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in restoring limbal stem cell deficiency in rat model

## TL;DR

This study shows that bone marrow-derived stem cells can help repair corneal damage in rats by reducing inflammation and improving healing.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the novel use of BM-MSCs in treating limbal stem cell deficiency through anti-inflammatory and tissue repair mechanisms.

## Key findings

- BM-MSCs treatment improved corneal wound healing and reduced opacity and neovascularization.
- BM-MSCs significantly decreased inflammatory markers like TNF-α and IL-8.
- Stem cell treatment restored corneal epithelial integrity and reduced apoptosis.

## Abstract

This approach aimed to assess the therapeutic significance of BM-MSCs in alleviating LSCD elicited in rats via corneal alkali burns and to explore the associated repairing mechanisms. Rats were assigned to (1) control group, (2) alkali burn group, and (3) stem cells group. Corneal surface investigations were performed using a slit lamp and fluorescence tests. The therapeutic impact of BM-MSCs was appraised by estimating the protein levels of TNF-α, SOD, VEGF, MMP-2, and IL-8 using ELISA. Moreover, mRNA transcription levels of corneal TNF-α, NF-kB, COX-2, and caspase-3 were quantified. Histological investigation and immunostaining of corneal cytokeratin 3 and p63 proteins were also conducted. The results indicated that BM-MSCs treatment enhanced the corneal wound healing, decreased corneal opacity, and neovascularization. Moreover, such treatment resulted in a significant decline in corneal TNF-α, IL-8, VEGF, and MMP-2 protein levels. Additionally, stem cells group elicited a significant down-expression of TNF-α, NF-κB, COX-2, and caspase-3 genes. Besides, BM-MSCs treatment restored the corneal epithelial integrity and ameliorated the pathological characteristics, as confirmed by histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Conclusively, the present investigation underscores the healing ability of BM-MSCs in LSCD in the rat model by repairing the damaged corneal epithelium through withstanding inflammation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Consequently, MSCs transplantation represents a promising therapeutic modality for LSCD.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-26637-2.