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Veterinary ophthalmology2023; doi: 10.1111/vop.13175

Subconjunctival autologous muscle-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy: A novel, minimally invasive approach for treating equine immune-mediated keratitis.

Abstract: To establish the safety of subconjunctival injections of autologous muscle-derived mesenchymal stem cells (mdMSCs) in healthy horses and to evaluate their effect in four horses (six eyes) with severe chronic equine immune-mediated keratitis (IMMK) that was unresponsive to medical treatments. Methods: MdMSCs were cultured from minimally invasive muscle biopsies. In the safety group, four healthy horses received two subconjunctival injections of 2.5 and 5 million cells, respectively, at 1-month interval, to the same eye. Ocular side effects were monitored for 1 month following each injection. In the treatment group, six eyes received four to seven subconjunctival mdMSCs injections (2.5 or 5 million cells per injection) every 4 weeks, approximatively. Medical treatment was discontinued 1 week before and throughout the entire treatment period. A scoring system was used to assess the evolution of the ocular lesions. Results: In the safety group, all horses exhibited mild to moderate chemosis and conjunctival hyperemia at the injection site, lasting 24-48 h. In the treatment group, all eyes initially responded positively to therapy, with a reduction in lesion scores observed after the first injection. Four eyes achieved control of the lesions with repeated injections during the 9.2 months of follow-up. Conclusions: The first subconjunctival injection of mdMSCs resulted in improvement of the ocular lesions. Repeated injections were found to be safe, minimally invasive and showed promise in managing refractory cases of equine IMMK. Further studies are warranted to demonstrate the long-term benefits of these injections and to optimize the therapeutic protocol.
© 2023 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
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Publication Date: 2023-12-10 PubMed ID: 38071501DOI: 10.1111/vop.13175Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article presents results of a safety study and a treatment study on the use of autologous muscle-derived mesenchymal stem cells (mdMSCs) for treating a condition in horses called immune-mediated keratitis (IMMK), that was resistant to standard medical treatments. The research concluded that the injections of stem cells showed promise in controlling the disease, while causing only minor temporary side effects.

Research Methods

  • The researchers obtained mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from muscle biopsies done in a minimally invasive fashion from the same horses that were to be treated. They cultured these cells to obtain enough for several injections.
  • In the safety phase of the study, four healthy horses were given two subconjunctival injections of the cultured mdMSCs (2.5 and 5 million cells in each injection), one month apart, in the same eye.
  • Any ocular side effects (reactions in the eye to the injections) were monitored for a month after each injection.
  • In the treatment phase of the study, four horses with a total of six eyes affected by severe chronic IMMK that had not responded to other treatments, were given four to seven subconjunctival injections of the cultured mdMSCs, approximately every 4 weeks. The horses in this phase of the study were not given any other medical treatment for one week before and during the entire period of the stem cell injections.
  • The researchers developed a scoring system to monitor the progress of the ocular lesions in each eye.

Results and Findings

  • In the safety study, each of the horses experienced mild to moderate chemosis (swelling of the membrane lining the eyelids and surface of the eye) and conjunctival hyperemia (excess blood flow in the conjunctiva, the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye), which lasted between 24 to 48 hours.
  • In the treatment study, all the treated eyes showed an initial positive response with a reduction in the scores of the lesions after the first injection. After repeated injections over 9.2 months of follow-up, four eyes of the horses showed a continued decrease in the lesions.

Conclusions

  • The first injection of the cultured mdMSCs resulted in an improvement in ocular lesions. Repeated injections were found to be safe and minimally invasive.
  • The results of the study may present a promising option for managing refractory (resistant to treatment) cases of equine IMMK.
  • The research paper concludes that further studies are required to determine the long-term benefits of these injections and to develop an optimized therapeutic protocol.

Cite This Article

APA
Narinx F, Sauvage A, Ceusters J, Grulke S, Serteyn D, Monclin S. (2023). Subconjunctival autologous muscle-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy: A novel, minimally invasive approach for treating equine immune-mediated keratitis. Vet Ophthalmol. https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.13175

Publication

Veterinary ophthalmology
ISSN: 1463-5224
NlmUniqueID: 100887377
Country: England
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Narinx, Florine
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Companion and Equine Animals, Ophthalmology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Liège, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Sauvage, Aurélie
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Companion and Equine Animals, Ophthalmology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Liège, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Ceusters, Justine
  • Center for Oxygen Research and Development, Institute of Chemistry, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Grulke, Sigrid
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Equine Surgery, Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Liège, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Serteyn, Didier
  • Center for Oxygen Research and Development, Institute of Chemistry, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Equine Surgery, Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Liège, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Monclin, Sébastien
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Companion and Equine Animals, Ophthalmology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Liège, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Young KAS, Schnabel LV, Gilger BC. Cell and Gene Therapy in Equine Ocular Disease. Vet Ophthalmol 2026 Mar;29(2):e70151.
    doi: 10.1111/vop.70151pubmed: 41623202google scholar: lookup
  2. Aeri A, Gorla M, Sharma GT. Veterinary Regenerative Medicine: The Evolving Role of Stem Cell-Based Therapies. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2025 Nov;21(8):2484-2510.
    doi: 10.1007/s12015-025-10963-zpubmed: 40900287google scholar: lookup
  3. Wu KY, Kearn N, Truong D, Choulakian MY, Tran SD. Advances in Regenerative Medicine, Cell Therapy, and 3D Bioprinting for Corneal, Oculoplastic, and Orbital Surgery. Adv Exp Med Biol 2025;1483:69-114.
    doi: 10.1007/5584_2025_855pubmed: 40131704google scholar: lookup
  4. Sharun K, Banu SA, Alifsha B, Abualigah L, Pawde AM, Dhama K, Pal A. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in veterinary ophthalmology: clinical evidence and prospects. Vet Res Commun 2024 Dec;48(6):3517-3531.
    doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10522-wpubmed: 39212813google scholar: lookup
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