Evaluating the therapeutic effect of Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs)-derived exosomes in patients with severe dry eye
Khosrow Jadidi1 *, Hossein Aghamollaei2 , Farhad Nejat2 , Ahang Taghvamanesh2 , Milad Naseri3
- vision Health Research Center, Semnan University Of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Vision Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Vision Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
Abstract: Exosomes derived from Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) have multiple capabilities in various biological fields. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of exosome eye drops in a 3-month clinical study for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED).
Methods: In this study, we examined 11 patients (22 eyes) with moderate to severe dry eye disease. The patients were administered exosome eye drops every six hours for three months, in addition to their previous medical treatments for dry eye disease. The effectiveness of this method was validated using visual parameters such as uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and intraocular pressure (IOP), tear meniscus height (TMH), non-invasive break-up time (niBUT), Schirmer test, Ocular Surface Inflammatory Risk Evaluation (OSIE), redness, meibography and OSDI questionnaire, before and after the three-month of exosome eye drop use
Results: None of the patients showed any side effects during the use of exosome. The mean±SD of niBUT, Schirmer test, and OSDI, changed from 3.74±2.90s to 6.21±2.81s, 5.86±4.62mm to 8.27±3.75mm,and 33.11±14.50 to 23.52±11.59 respectively. Furthermore, the Ocular Surface Inflammatory Risk Evaluation (OSIE), eye redness, and meibography parameters were decreased in all patients. Additionally, there was a significant improvement in TMH
Conclusion: The application of exosomes derived from Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells shows potential in the reduction of dry eye syndrome. It is recommended that further research be conducted to develop a more effective exosome-based ophthalmic treatment
