Tissue engineered ultra-thin descemet stripping corneal endothelial layers using porcine cornea and stem cells

• Published in: Experimental eye research Vol. 199; p. 108192
• Main Authors: An, Jeong-Hee, Park, So-Young, Kim, Gon-Hyung, Mo, In-Pil, Kim, Soochong, Woo, Heung-Myong, Park, Kyung-Mee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2020
• Subjects: Animals; Cells, Cultured; Cornea; Cornea - cytology; Corneal Diseases - pathology; Corneal Diseases - surgery; Corneal endothelial; Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty - methods; Descemet's membrane; Disease Models, Animal; DSEK; Endothelium, Corneal - cytology; Humans; Porcine; Stem cell; Stem Cells - cytology; Swine; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue-engineering; Porcine; Cornea; Descemet's membrane; DSEK; Stem cell; Tissue-engineering; Corneal endothelial
• ISSN: 0014-4835; 1096-0007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108192

Due to their very poor proliferative capacity, the dysfunction of corneal endothelial cells can sometimes lead to incurable eye diseases that require corneal transplantation. Although many studies have been performed to reconstruct corneal endothelial cells, corneal transplantation is still considered to be the established approach. In this study, we developed bio-engineered Descemet stripping endothelial (DSE) layers, using porcine cornea and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived corneal endothelial cells (iCECs). First, we optimized a protocol to prepare an ultra-thin and decellularized Descemet stripping (DS) scaffold from porcine cornea. Our DS layers show over 90% transparency compared to the control. Porcine-derived cells and xenogenic antigens disappeared, whereas the collagen matrix remained in the graft. Next, corneal endothelial cell lines or iCECs were seeded on the decellularized DS graft and cultured for 7 days. The drying method reduced graft rolling and edema, and increased transparency during culture. The reseeded cells were evenly distributed over the graft, and most of the cells survived. Although future clinical studies are warranted, engineered DSE tissues using xenogenic tissues and stem cells will be useful tools for the treatment of incurable corneal diseases. •We optimized the decellularization protocols for ultra-thin and transparent Descemet stripping grafts from porcine eyes.•We optimized the recellularization to produce a clear and homogeneously reseeded Descemet stripped endothelial tissue.•The stem cell –derived corneal endothelial cells were evenly spread and attached on the engineered endothelial tissue.•The engineered Descemet stripping endothelial grafts using stem cells will be promising for the corneal diseases.