Decreased Corneal Endothelial Cell Apoptosis Due to U/S Power Injury With Limbal Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome Therapy

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of limbal mesenchymal stem cell secretome (LMSC-S) on corneal endothelial NF-κB, TNF-α, and Caspase-8 expression after U/S power injury of the phacoemulsification machine. Setting: Stem Cell Research and Development Center, Universitas Airlangga. Design: Experimental studies on laboratory animals. Methods: The normal group included eight eyes of four rabbits, and the other groups each included seven eyes of seven rabbits. The normal group consisted of eyes without exposure or treatment. Control group 1 (C1) served as the control for treatment group 1 (T1), where LMSC-S was administered simultaneously with the U/S power exposure. Control group 2 (C2) served as the control for treatment group 2 (T2), in which LMSC-S was administered 3 days after U/S power exposure. Corneal endothelial cell (CEC) damage was induced by exposure to ultrasound from a phacoemulsification machine. Rabbit LMSC-S cells were obtained from the Stem Cell Research and Development Center, Universitas Airlangga. Expression of NF-κB, TNF-α, and Caspase-8 were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: All studied cytokines increased after U/S power injury (NF-κB: p = 0.047 for N-C1; p < 0.001 for N-C2, TNF-α: p < 0.001 for N-C1 and N-C2, Caspase-8: p < 0.001 for N-C1 and N-C2). T2 group showed the least increase and was closer to normal (NF-κB: p = 0.002 for N-T1, p = 0.081 for N-T2; TNF-α: p = 0.005 for N-T1, p = 0.161 for N-T2; Caspase-8: p = 0.013 for N-T1, p = 0.739 for N-T2). Conclusions: LMSC-S therapy on the third day postexposure decreased corneal endothelial apoptotic cytokine expression.