Light-induced retinal injury enhanced neurotrophins secretion and neurotrophic effect of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro

• Main Authors: Wei Xu, Xiaoting Wang, Guoxing Xu, Jian Guo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Conselho Brasileiro de Oftalmologia 2013-04-01
• Series: Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia
• Subjects: Fator 2 de crescimento de fibroblastos; Fator neurotrófico ciliar; Retina; Células mesenquimais estromais; Células-tronco; Fator neurotrófico derivado do encéfalo
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-27492013000200010&lng=en&tlng=en

PURPOSE: To investigate neurotrophins expression and neurotrophic effect change in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) under different types of stimulation. METHODS: Rats were exposed in 10,000 lux white light to develop light-induced retinal injury. Supernatants of homogenized retina (SHR), either from normal or light-injured retina, were used to stimulate MSCs. Quantitative real time for polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were conducted for analysis the expression change in basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in MSCs after stimulation. Conditioned medium from SHR-stimulated MSCs and control MSCs were collected for evaluation their effect on retinal explants. RESULTS: Supernatants of homogenized retina from light-injured rats significantly promoted neurotrophins secretion from MSCs (p<0.01). Conditioned medium from mesenchymal stem cells stimulated by light-injured SHR significantly reduced DNA fragmentation (p<0.01), up-regulated bcl-2 (p<0.01) and down-regulated bax (p<0.01) in retinal explants, displaying enhanced protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: Light-induced retinal injury is able to enhance neurotrophins secretion from mesenchymal stem cells and promote the neurotrophic effect of mesenchymal stem cells.