Application of Paracrine Factors of Stem Cells for Prevention and Treatment of Post-Burn Neovascularization of the Cornea in the Experiment

Summary. Purpose of the study – to evaluate the efficacy of different fractions of a peptide preparation in the treatment of post-burn corneal neovascularization in an experiment. Materials and methods. The experimental studies were conducted on 40 male Wistar rats. All animals had previously undergone a chemical burn of the cornea and conjunctiva. Various fractions of a peptide preparation containing paracrine factors of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were used as treatment. For the experiment, MSCs were cultivated under hypoxic conditions. Four experimental groups and one control group of 8 rats (8 eyes) were formed. Group 1 – a peptide preparation of the total fraction was used for treatment; group 2 – a peptide preparation with a fraction of molecular weight up to 3 kDa; group 3 – with a fraction of molecular weight up to 30 kDa; group 4 – with a fraction of molecular weight from 30 to 120 kDa, in the control group a culture medium was used as treatment. Before the treatment, as well as on the 14th and 30th day of the experiment, the following studies were performed: photo registration of the fundus, biomicroscopy, corneal OCT, determination of corneal transparency. Results of the study and their analysis. The study showed that the total fraction and the fraction with a molecular weight of up to 30 kDa, obtained by culturing MSCs under hypoxic conditions, are effective in the treatment and prevention of neovascular corneal leukoma caused by a chemical burn, and these substances may be promising for the development of drugs used in medicine to minimize the effects of injuries in man-made disasters.